Firefighting helicopters collide in Greece amid European wildfire crisis

Two Greek firefighting helicopters collided in midair on Sunday as they were battling a wind-driven wildfire west of Athens, sending one aircraft crashing to the ground, footage showed.The aircraft were Bell helicopters operating over the Psatha area west of Athens, each with a two-person crew. Two of the crew members, one Greek and one Danish national, were killed. Two other crew members, one Greek and one British national, were recovered alive. No further details about the surviving crew members were immediately available. It's not clear if the deceased crew members were on the same helicopter. The collision laid bare the danger at the most volatile front of Europe's wildfire emergency. Strong winds drove flames deeper into the region of the Greek capital and forced fresh evacuations.The fire began Friday near Agios Vasileios before sweeping toward Porto Germeno and into the forested mountains west of Athens. Firefighters evacuated 254 people by sea Friday and another 12 Saturday — often the last escape route when fire and smoke cut the few roads from coastal communities. A firefighting helicopter drops water near Porto Germeno, northwest of Athens, Greece, Aug. 2, 2026. Michael ...