Helicopters fighting Greece wildfires collide in mid-air
Video of the incident shows one of the helicopters hitting the propellers of the other, which bursts into flames.
Mid-air Collision of Helicopters Battling Greek Wildfires
Two helicopters engaged in combating wildfires in Greece collided, resulting in one bursting into flames and both plummeting into a ravine. The incident, captured on video, occurred approximately 65 km (42 miles) west of Athens. Greek media reports indicate that two of the four crew members were found unconscious, while the others sustained minor injuries.
The collision took place during a forest firefighting operation in the Psatha area, as confirmed by the Fire Department. The crew members, identified by Greek media as two Greek and two Romanian nationals, have been transported to the 251st Air Force General Hospital.
Greece has experienced numerous wildfires this week, leading to widespread evacuations. Strong winds have complicated efforts to control the blazes. Media outlets describe a "titanic battle" across areas including Porto Germeno, Psatha, Fokida, Megara, and Kefalonia, where over 500 firefighters have been working for the past 72 hours to manage the situation.
Other European nations have also been grappling with severe wildfires following a series of heatwaves that created ideal conditions for their spread. Earlier this week, France and Spain confronted massive fires near Madrid and Bordeaux, respectively. While these fires are now contained and still burning, approximately 300,000 evacuated residents have begun returning home.
Although most wildfires are human-ignited, either intentionally or accidentally, climate change is increasing the frequency of favorable conditions for their occurrence. A mild and wet winter promoted vegetation growth, which subsequently dried out during successive hot spells, providing ample fuel for the wildfires.