Two firefighting helicopters collided mid-air west of Athens on Sunday, killing a Danish and a Greek national, while a British pilot and another Greek crew member survived. The crash came as Greece struggled to control a wildfire advancing on the capital in gale-force winds.
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Key facts
- Two firefighting helicopters collided west of Athens on 2 August 2026.
- Two crew members died: one Danish and one Greek national.
- A British pilot and another Greek crew member survived.
- Gale-force winds were pushing flames towards settlements on Athens' western fringes.
- Investigations into the cause of the collision have begun, according to the fire service.
Two firefighting helicopters collided mid-air west of Athens on Sunday, killing two crew members, as Greece intensified efforts to control a massive wildfire barrelling towards the outskirts of the Greek capital. The collision prompted a search and rescue operation for a crew member whose aircraft went down, the Guardian reported.
According to the BBC, one Danish national and one Greek national died in the incident, while a British pilot and another Greek crew member survived. The fire service said two people on one helicopter died, while the crew on the other survived, as reported by CNBC.
The crash unfolded amid gale-force winds that had pushed flames towards settlements on Athens’ western fringes. The Guardian reported that video captured on Sunday showed one of the water-dumping aircraft being brought down in the strong winds.
Footage of the collision has emerged online showing the moment the two aircraft came together. The BBC reported that video of the incident shows one helicopter hitting the propellers of the other, which then bursts into flames.
The fire service said investigations had started into what caused the collision, according to CNBC. The incident occurred as crews worked to hold back a wildfire advancing on the capital.
The disaster came as Europe struggled with record-breaking summer heat, with wildfires ravaging Greece, France and Spain and sparking mass evacuations, according to Al Jazeera. In France, a blaze changed course, CNBC reported.
Why it matters
The deaths highlight the dangers faced by aerial firefighting crews as Europe endures record-breaking heat and destructive wildfires. With flames pressing towards the outskirts of Athens and evacuations under way across multiple countries, the crash underscores the human cost of an intensifying summer fire season.
Frequently asked questions
How many people died in the helicopter collision?
Two crew members died. According to the BBC, one was a Danish national and one was a Greek national, while a British pilot and another Greek crew member survived.
Where did the collision happen?
The two firefighting helicopters collided west of Athens as crews battled a wildfire advancing on the Greek capital, according to the Guardian and Al Jazeera.
What caused the crash?
The cause was not confirmed. The fire service said investigations into the collision had started, according to CNBC, and the crash occurred amid gale-force winds pushing flames towards Athens' western fringes.
Timeline
- Two die as firefighting helicopters collide in Greece; French blaze changes course
CNBC Top News: Two people on one helicopter died, while the crew on the other survived, the fire service said. Investigations had started into what caused the collision.
- Two crew killed after firefighting helicopters collide in Greece, as British pilot survives
BBC World: One Danish and one Greek national died in the incident, while a British pilot and another Greek crew member survived.
- Two helicopters collide mid-air while tackling wildfires in Greece
Al Jazeera: Footage has emerged showing the moment two firefighting helicopters collided mid-air while fighting wildfires in Greece.
- Two helicopters collide outside Athens as Greece battles to control wildfires
The Guardian World: Search and rescue operation under way for crew member whose aircraft went down in gale-force winds west of capital Two firefighting helicopters have collided west of Athens, prompting a search and rescue operation, as efforts to control a massive wildfire barrelling towards the o
- Two crew killed as British pilot survives after firefighting helicopters collide in Greece
BBC World: One Danish and one Greek national died in the incident, while a British pilot and another Greek crew member survived.
- Helicopters fighting Greece wildfires collide in mid-air
BBC World: Video of the incident shows one of the helicopters hitting the propellers of the other, which bursts into flames.
- Firefighting helicopters collide near Athens as Greece battles wildfires
Al Jazeera: Europe struggles with record-breaking summer heat as wildfires ravage Greece, France, and Spain, sparking evacuations.
- Firefighting helicopters collide, killing two, as Greece battles wildfires
Al Jazeera: Europe struggles with record-breaking summer heat as wildfires ravage Greece, France and Spain causing mass evacuations.