On Sunday, August 2nd, 2026, two firefighting helicopters collided and crashed while combating wildfires west of Athens, Greece, according to the Greek broadcaster ERT. The incident occurred near the village of Psatha, approximately 34 miles from the capital city.
The Greek fire department later confirmed that all four crew members were recovered. Two were found safely, while the other two were unconscious. A large-scale search and rescue operation was promptly launched in the area.
Nearly 500 firefighters and 23 aircraft had been deployed earlier to fight the fires. However, gale-force winds drove flames through dry forest, hampering firefighting efforts and preventing some aircraft from reaching the sea to collect water.
The situation evoked grim memories of the 2018 Mati wildfire in the region, which was Europe's deadliest blaze this century, claiming 104 lives.
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