{
  "id": 66749,
  "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",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-02T15:34:36.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Times of India",
    "slug": "times-of-india",
    "url": "https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/europe/watch-firefighting-helicopters-collide-mid-air-as-greece-battles-massive-wildfire/articleshow/132809131.cms"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "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.",
  "summary": null,
  "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": "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": "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."
}