Two firefighting helicopters collided mid-air on Sunday while battling a wildfire in Greece, killing two crew members [1].

The accident underscores the extreme risks faced by aerial firefighting teams operating in volatile conditions as blazes continue to ravage parts of Europe.

The collision took place in the Psatha area, located west of Athens [2]. The aircraft were engaged in active firefighting operations when the impact occurred [3]. Video footage captured the moment the two helicopters collided before crashing to the ground [4].

Authorities said the deceased were a Greek national and a Danish national [1]. Two other crew members survived the crash [1].

Emergency responders arrived at the scene in the Psatha region to recover the victims and assist the survivors [2]. The incident occurred amid a broader effort to contain raging wildfires that have plagued the region [3].

Official reports said that two people died in the crash [1], while two others were unharmed [1]. While some reports suggested different locations or death tolls, primary accounts from the Psatha area confirm the two fatalities resulting from this specific mid-air collision [1], [2].

“Two firefighting helicopters collided mid-air on Sunday while battling a wildfire in Greece.”

This tragedy highlights the inherent dangers of coordinated aerial firefighting, where low visibility and high-pressure environments increase the risk of mid-air collisions. The involvement of a Danish national also reflects the international cooperation typical of European wildfire responses, where multiple nations pool resources to combat escalating climate-driven fire seasons.