Two dead after firefighting helicopters battling wildfires crash in Greece

Tragedy struck Greece's firefighting efforts on Sunday when two helicopters collided mid-air, killing two crew members. The incident occurred in the Psatha area, approximately 60 kilometers west of Athens, while the aircraft were engaged in battling a major wildfire. The Greek Fire Service confirmed that one crew was rescued alive, but the other two aboard the second helicopter perished.

This fatal collision underscores the extreme dangers faced by emergency personnel during Europe's escalating wildfire crisis. Greece has been particularly hard-hit, with over 12,000 hectares of forest and agricultural land destroyed in the past week alone. The wildfire near Athens was spreading rapidly through western Attica, threatening communities and an industrial district, with strong winds hampering aerial firefighting operations.

The incident carries a grim resonance, recalling the devastating 2018 Mati wildfire that claimed 104 lives, making it Europe's deadliest blaze this century. Meanwhile, other parts of Europe continue to grapple with severe fires. France is managing a massive blaze that has forced the evacuation of 224,000 people, potentially the largest civilian evacuation outside of wartime. Spain's major fires have shown signs of containment, but the overall situation across the continent remains critical.

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Both crew members from one of the two firefighting helicopters that collided on Sunday in the Greek area of Psatha, west of Athens, died in the incident.