Origin: Collision of Firefighting Helos Kills Two Crew

On August 2, 2026, two firefighting helicopters crashed into each other mid-air near Psatha, west of Athens, while battling a wildfire. Two people were killed in the collision.

The victims were a Danish pilot and a Greek member of the firefighting team. Accounts differ on the Greek victim’s exact role, described as either a firefighting coordinator or a crew member.

Both aircraft were Bell helicopters operated by McDermott Aviation, an Australian company contracted for aerial firefighting in Greece. They were part of a wider effort to contain a major blaze in the area.

The collision happened over the active fire zone during aerial operations to control the spread. The incident underscores the risks of close-quarters flying in wildfire conditions.

Authorities have opened an investigation to determine how the mid-air collision occurred. Findings will focus on flight operations and coordination during the firefighting mission.

AI-synthesized from multiple reported sources