Two crew killed as firefighting helicopters collide in midair in Greece

Two crew members lost their lives on Sunday when two firefighting helicopters collided in midair during a major wildfire battle near Athens, Greece. A Danish pilot and a Greek liaison officer perished in the crash. The victims were aboard two Bell 214ST helicopters that had taken off from Elefsina military airport and were battling the fire.

A British pilot and a Greek coordinator survived with minor injuries and were hospitalized for 24 hours. Both aircraft involved were leased by Greece's fire service from an Australian company. The crash occurred during adverse weather conditions, with winds reaching Force 10 on the Beaufort scale, which hindered water-bombing aircraft operations.

Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis expressed deep sorrow and condolences to the victims' families. The firefront was advancing towards Megara and its industrial zone, prompting evacuation warnings through the 112 emergency system. Despite the loss, firefighting efforts continued with the use of Canadair aircraft, Chinook helicopters, and Erickson Air-Crane units.