{
  "id": 56193,
  "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",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-02T20:36:37.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "BBC News",
    "slug": "bbc-news",
    "url": "https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c1417713ve6o?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Two crew members lost their lives in a mid-air collision between two firefighting helicopters in Greece while battling a large wildfire. The victims were a Danish pilot and a Greek fire service liaison officer. Remarkably, a British pilot and another Greek co-ordinator aboard the second helicopter survived the crash. Video footage, captured approximately 65 km west of Athens, shows one of the Bell helicopters crashing into the propellers of the other, igniting a fiery inferno that led to the destruction of both aircraft. The surviving aircraft managed a safe emergency landing in an area of sparse vegetation. Wildfires have been ravaging Greece this week, prompting mass evacuations across the nation. Similar devastating fires have also struck other European countries amid prolonged heatwaves. Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis conveyed his deepest sorrow over the accident, expressing grief for the loss of the Greek coordinator and Danish pilot, and extended condolences to their families. Following protocol, all Bell helicopters across the country have been grounded pending further investigations. The two survivors, a British pilot and a Greek liaison officer, sustained minor injuries and were admitted to the hospital for observation. The British survivor, a private pilot hired for the wildfire season, was not part of any request for assistance from Athens. Firefighting efforts continue in Greece, with Erickson Air-Crane, Chinook, and Canadair water-bombing helicopters actively combating the blaze. Earlier this week, France and Spain also faced massive wildfires, though these have since been contained. Over 300,000 people who were evacuated have begun returning to their homes. In Greece, the battle against wildfires continues along a swath of territory, including Porto Germeno, Psatha, Fokida, Megara, and Kefalonia, where over 500 firefighters have been tirelessly working for the past three days. Most wildfires are attributed to human activities, whether intentional or accidental, but the increasing frequency of such incidents can be attributed to climate change. Last winter was mild and wet, leading to excessive vegetation growth that subsequently dried out during successive heat spells, fueling the rampant wildfires.",
  "summary": "One Danish and one Greek national died in the incident, while a British pilot and another Greek crew member survived.",
  "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": "MyJoyOnline Ghana",
        "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",
        "published": "2026-08-02T19:12:40.000Z"
      },
      {
        "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."
}