Two helicopters collide as Athens wildfire battle intensifies

Two firefighting helicopters collided west of Athens on Sunday, killing the two-person crew of one aircraft, as Greek authorities worked to contain a massive wildfire storming toward the capital under gale-force conditions.

Deadly collision

Fire department spokesman Vassilis Vathrakogiannis said the pilots were taken to hospital unconscious, where they later died. Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis identified the victims as one Danish and one Greek national. The crew of the second helicopter were rescued safely, according to officials.

The aircraft were part of a fleet of 15 leased from Australia's McDermott Aviation, which has supported Greek firefighting operations for the past seven years. Vathrakogiannis stressed that extreme winds, exceeding 125 kilometers per hour in recent days, made it impossible for aircraft to operate safely, with turbulence preventing water drops.

Wildfires encroach on the capital

The blaze, which erupted near the coastal village of Porto Germeno, roughly 70 kilometers northwest of Athens, has already destroyed more than 100 homes. Hundreds of residents and tourists fled as flames advanced through tinder-dry vegetation. By Sunday, more than 500 firefighters and forest commandos were dispatched to contain the inferno.

Satellite imagery showed smoke drifting toward the capital's western suburbs, prompting authorities to issue urgent evacuation orders for several settlements. The high winds, which initially brought cooler temperatures, have become a severe obstacle to both aerial and ground operations.

Wider Mediterranean crisis

The tragedy in Greece came amid a volatile wildfire season across Europe. In France, authorities reported that a massive blaze in the Gironde region, four times the size of Paris, had been brought under control after displacing over 200,000 people. Meanwhile, Spain saw progress in containing its own wildfires.

Greece, however, has faced a series of fires from Crete to the Peloponnese, the island of Cephalonia, and the Aegean. Last week, three Greek firefighters died while battling blazes. The nation's civil protection minister, retired air force general Evangelos Tournas, said the fire department had been "pushed to its limits" by the relentless conditions.

Looking ahead

Mitsotakis warned of "extremely difficult" days ahead, with winds forecast to remain strong. He reiterated that even dozens of aircraft cannot operate safely under such gusts, underscoring the need for new strategies to combat fires in a warming climate. As Greece braces for continued heat and wind, officials are urging the public to remain vigilant and heed evacuation orders.

International response

European nations have offered assistance, and the EU has mobilized additional firefighting resources. The incident has renewed calls for investment in heavy-lift helicopters and better early-warning systems to protect lives and property from the escalating threat of climate-driven wildfires.