Two crew killed as British pilot survives after firefighting helicopters collide in Greece

Tragedy struck in Greece as two firefighting helicopters collided mid-air while crews were desperately battling raging wildfires, leaving two crew members dead. The accident comes as emergency services across Europe struggle to contain a series of destructive blazes fueled by prolonged heatwaves.

According to local authorities, the collision occurred roughly 65 km, or 42 miles, west of the capital city of Athens. Two leased Bell helicopters involved in firefighting efforts over a large wildfire on the Attica-Boeotia border ended up crashing into a ravine following the impact.

Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event

Footage of the incident captured the harrowing moment when one of the Bell helicopters struck the propellers of the other, causing it to burst into flames before both aircraft plummeted into a ravine. The Greek Fire Service stated that the crew members of the first aircraft were successfully rescued alive, whereas the second crew was recovered unconscious and later pronounced dead.

The two fatalities were identified as a Danish pilot and a Greek fire service liaison officer. Meanwhile, a British pilot and another Greek fire service liaison officer aboard the second helicopter miraculously survived the incident. Greek media described a grueling battle involving more than 500 firefighters working continuously over 72 hours across territory including Porto Germeno, Psatha, Fokida, Megara, and Kefalonia.

Source: BBC World