Watch: Firefighting helicopters collide mid-air as Greece battles massive wildfire

On Sunday, a collision occurred between two firefighting helicopters battling a major wildfire in Attica, Greece, west of Athens. The incident took place while the helicopters were participating in a water-dropping operation near Psatha. One helicopter's main rotor struck the underside of the other, causing both aircraft to crash in flames.

The crew of the lower helicopter was found safe, with ambulances in attendance for their recovery, while the second helicopter's crew was also located, and a search-and-rescue operation was initiated. The collision occurred amidst a fast-moving wildfire driven by strong winds, which had already destroyed over 100 homes and scorched thousands of hectares.

Despite the winds subsiding, the fire continued to spread, reaching the settlement of Veniza and igniting unexploded ordnance at a military firing range. Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis acknowledged the scale of the crisis, stating that the forces of nature sometimes overcome all human planning and capabilities. Neighboring villages joined in the firefighting efforts, and emergency evacuation alerts were issued for several settlements, including an industrial estate near Megara.