Two Dead After Helicopters Collide During Firefighting Operations in Greece

Two firefighting helicopters collided in mid-air while battling a forest fire in Greece’s Attica region, resulting in two fatalities and injuries among the crew members.

Mid-Air Collision During Firefighting

“Two helicopters collided in mid-air during a forest firefighting operation in the Psatha area of Attica,” the fire service reported, citing the Greek news agency AMNA. Both leased firefighting aircraft had taken off from the Elefsina air base.

According to information from Greek media, one of the two-person helicopter crews was located. The Kathimerini service unofficially reported that its members made contact immediately after the accident and sustained only minor injuries.

Crew Members Located and Hospitalized

The other two crew members from the second helicopter were also found, but reportedly unconscious. The injured individuals were transported by ambulances to the Air Force Hospital in Athens.

Catastrophe in Greece. Two helicopters collided during firefighting operations.

The Associated Press reported, citing the fire service, that two people died as a result of the incident. The fatal victims of the collision are citizens of Greece and Denmark, while those rescued from the accident are citizens of Greece and Great Britain. Foreign crews frequently participate in combating forest fires that break out in Greece during the summer season.

Reactions from Leadership and Regional Fires

“I express my deepest sorrow for the tragic accident of two rented firefighting helicopters, which cost the lives of two firefighters,” wrote Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis on the platform X. “The death of the Greek coordinator and the Danish pilot during the firefighting of a large fire in Porto Germenos fills us all with deep regret. I express my sincere condolences to their families,” he added.

>>>>> Dangerous fires have been reported in France, Spain, Portugal, and Greece. Firefighters are battling the elements, and politicians are assuring that they are handling the situation, writes Iwona Görke on Wyborcza.pl.

Extreme Weather and Conditions in Greece

Greece is fighting fires. The Prime Minister spoke about extreme conditions.

Due to extreme weather conditions and winds carrying the fire, the weather situation in Greece is “extremely difficult,” admitted the country’s Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis on Sunday. He announced assistance for those who suffered as a result of the fires.

In a post on social media platforms, Mitsotakis warned that Greece is facing “extremely difficult days with extreme weather conditions” and hurricane-force winds.

“In recent years, we have invested more than ever before in strengthening civil protection… However, there are times when nature and the severity of weather conditions exceed all human plans and operational capabilities,” the Prime Minister wrote.

He explained that in recent days, the national fleet of firefighting aircraft in many cases was unable to reach fire sources due to strong winds, or even descend over the choppy sea to scoop water to drop on the flames.

Mitsotakis promised that authorities will intensify efforts aimed at assessing material damage and providing support to individuals affected by the fires. “Our absolute priority remains above all the protection of human life, followed by property and our precious forest ecosystems,” he assured.

Spread of Fires and Marine Invasions

According to AFP, in Greece, which contends with fires caused by heatwaves and droughts every summer, the fire situation until recently was significantly better than in France and Spain. However, in recent days numerous fires have also broken out in this country. Within a week, flames consumed over 12,000 hectares of forests and agricultural land. The most difficult situation prevails in the Attica region, which includes Athens, the adjacent Boeotia, and the nearby island of Euboea.

>>>>> These are no longer jokes. For several years, the Mediterranean Sea has become the second homeland of unwanted and increasingly troublesome species of animals and fish. More in the text “Pink jellyfish and rabbitfish on the offensive. Greece sets up barriers to protect beachgoers,” writes Bartosz Hlebowicz on Wyborcza.pl.