Helicopter Collision Amid Wildfires in Greece

On August 2, 2026, two Greek firefighting helicopters collided in midair while battling a wildfire west of Athens. This incident resulted in one aircraft crashing to the ground, as shown in video footage. The helicopters were Bell models operating over the Psatha area, each staffed by a two-person crew.

Tragically, the collision claimed the lives of two crew members, a Greek and a Danish national. The other two crew members, one Greek and one British national, were found alive. Details about the surviving members are currently unavailable, and it remains unclear if the deceased were on the same helicopter.

The collision highlighted the hazardous conditions faced by firefighters amid Europe’s wildfire crisis. Strong winds further intensified the flames near Athens, leading to additional evacuations. The fire, which began near Agios Vasileios, spread to Porto Germeno and into the mountainous forest regions.

Firefighters evacuated 254 people by sea on Friday and an additional 12 on Saturday, as road access in coastal areas was obstructed by fire and smoke. Over 500 firefighters and 23 aircraft were deployed in an attempt to control the blaze. However, the powerful winds hindered efforts, restricting some aircraft from accessing the sea for water collection. The fire’s expansion mirrored the deadly 2018 Mati wildfire, which claimed 104 lives.

Authorities ordered evacuations in Kandili, Agia Skepi, and Toutouli due to rising smoke over the mountains. Concerns mounted for the seaside community of Porto Germeno on the Gulf of Corinth. Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis received updates on the ongoing operation.

Elsewhere in Greece, flames endangered homes on the island of Kefalonia, prompting evacuations as aircraft conducted water drops over the Ionian Islands. Another fire near Nea Tenedos in Halkidiki required firefighting efforts.

Earlier in the week, two firefighters lost their lives fighting a fire on Crete, with another fatality reported in the Peloponnese. Local farmer Minas Tzortzanis expressed the devastation, stating, “A pristine forest, a paradise, was surrendered to the hands of the fire. There are no words to explain what has happened. Destruction. Total destruction.”

In addition to the situation in Greece, wildfires in France and Spain have displaced approximately 250,000 people from homes and vacation spots, impacting communities during the height of the European summer. Emergency services are stretched thin across multiple crises.

The continent faced its worst fire year in 2025, with over 3,860 square miles scorched. According to the European Environment Agency, wildfires have been responsible for nearly 800 deaths in Europe over the past four decades. Europe is the fastest-warming continent worldwide, having warmed more than twice the global average since the 1980s based on data from the European Union’s Copernicus Climate Change Service.

Scientists at World Weather Attribution found that human-caused climate change has made extreme fire-weather conditions like those in France at least twice as likely, according to an analysis conducted during the active fires.