{
  "id": 54405,
  "title": "Two crew killed as British pilot survives after firefighting helicopters collide in Greece",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/02/two-crew-killed-as-british-pilot-survives-after-firefighting",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-02T19:12:40.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "MyJoyOnline Ghana",
    "slug": "myjoyonline-ghana",
    "url": "https://www.myjoyonline.com/two-crew-killed-as-british-pilot-survives-after-firefighting-helicopters-collide-in-greece/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Two crew members lost their lives when two firefighting helicopters collided mid-air in Greece while battling a large wildfire near the Attica-Boeotia border, according to local authorities. The Danish pilot and Greek fire service liaison officer perished in the accident. However, a British pilot and another Greek coordinator aboard the second helicopter survived the collision and subsequent crash. Video footage from the scene, located approximately 65 km (42 miles) west of Athens, captured one of the Bell helicopters colliding with the propellers of the other, leading to a fire that engulfed both helicopters as they plummeted into a ravine. The Greek Fire Service reported that the incident occurred during efforts to combat the extensive wildfire. Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis expressed profound sorrow over the incident, stating that the loss of the Greek coordinator and Danish pilot was deeply mourned by all. Following the tragedy, all Bell helicopters in the country were grounded. The second Bell helicopter involved in the collision managed to make an emergency landing in an area with sparse vegetation. The two individuals on board, a British pilot and a Greek fire service liaison officer, suffered minor injuries and were admitted to the hospital for observation. Firefighting operations continue in Greece, with Erickson Air-Crane, Chinook, and Canadair water-bombing helicopters, along with other aircraft, working to contain the blaze. Earlier this week, France and Spain also faced significant wildfires, which were later contained but remained burning. Evacuations affecting around 300,000 people have begun to allow residents to return to their homes. In Greece, media have described the firefighting efforts as a \"titanic battle\" along a stretch of terrain that includes Porto Germeno, Psatha, Fokida, Megara, and Kefalonia, where over 500 firefighters have been struggling for 72 hours to control the situation. While most wildfires are attributed to human activity, climate change is exacerbating the conditions leading to their occurrence. The previous winter was mild and wet, fostering vegetation growth that subsequently dried out during successive heatwaves, creating ample fuel for wildfires.",
  "summary": "Two crew members have been killed after two helicopters collided mid-air in Greece as they were battling wildfires, local authorities say.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 7,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "RTE News",
        "title": "Two dead after firefighting helicopters crash in Greece",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/02/two-dead-after-firefighting-helicopters-crash-in-greece",
        "published": "2026-08-02T14:26:16.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Free Malaysia Today",
        "title": "Helicopters collide in Greece as fires spread",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/02/helicopters-collide-in-greece-as-fires-spread",
        "published": "2026-08-02T14:40:05.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "DW News",
        "title": "Greece: fire brigade helicopters collide as wildfires spread",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/02/greece-fire-brigade-helicopters-collide-as-wildfires-spread",
        "published": "2026-08-02T15:26:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Times of India",
        "title": "Watch: Firefighting helicopters collide mid-air as Greece battles massive wildfire",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/02/watch-firefighting-helicopters-collide-mid-air-as-greece-battles",
        "published": "2026-08-02T15:34:36.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "BBC News",
        "title": "Two crew killed after firefighting helicopters collide in Greece, as British pilot survives",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/02/two-crew-killed-after-firefighting-helicopters-collide-in-greece-as",
        "published": "2026-08-02T20:36:37.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "MercoPress",
        "title": "Two crew killed as firefighting helicopters collide in midair in Greece",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/02/two-crew-killed-as-firefighting-helicopters-collide-in-midair-in",
        "published": "2026-08-02T20:43:00.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}