Military helicopter collision interrupts forest firefighting in Greece
Two military helicopters collided in the air on August 2, 2026, while operating to combat forest fires that are ravaging Greece, as reported by local authorities. The aircraft were carrying four crew members in total at the time of the incident.
The accident occurred in a coastal area approximately 40 kilometers west of the capital, Athens. The collision mobilized rescue teams, who were promptly called, according to the Greek Fire Department.
In an official statement, the Fire Department detailed the situation: “During the aerial firefighting operation, two Bell-type helicopters, hired by the Fire Department, with a crew of two members each, crashed in the wider region of Psatha, in Attica. (…) The search and rescue operation is underway.”
More on this story: Accident with military helicopters while fighting forest fires hits Greece
Until the last update of this investigation, the responsible body had not released information about the occurrence of deaths or injuries as a result of the collision between the helicopters.
Images circulating on social media platforms record the exact moment of impact. In one of the footage, it is possible to see a helicopter approaching another that was flying in front of it, culminating in the collision. The helicopter that was in the lower position explodes and crashes immediately, while the other soon loses control.
Consequences of forest fires in Greece
Greek firefighters have faced an uphill battle to control a vast forest fire that has already destroyed more than a hundred homes in the northwest region of Athens. A new outbreak of flames required urgent evacuation on the popular tourist island of Kefalonia.
Recent estimates indicate that more than 10 thousand hectares of forest area may have been devastated throughout the national territory.
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The strong winds, which initially drove the fire in the town of Porto Germeno, in the Gulf of Corinth, 60 kilometers from Athens, lost strength. However, the fire managed to cross a mountain to the south, reaching the settlement of Veniza and a military firing range, where it activated unexploded ordnance.
To contain the crisis, almost 500 Greek firefighters were mobilized, equipped with specialized vehicles, heavy machinery and firefighting aircraft. The effort received international reinforcements from France and Romania.
Greece, like other European countries, has been severely affected by forest fires this summer, a period marked by little rain and multiple heat waves that have registered historic records in several regions. Scientists point out that the extreme weather conditions observed in Europe may have been intensified by climate change.
In the village of Agios Konstantinos, residents came together in a desperate attempt to stop the spread of the flames. “The fire started last night, it is true that they cannot be everywhere. We, as residents, are doing everything we can”, reported Tasos Tzempelikos, 61, who, alongside his son, was throwing water to contain the fire.
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Major containment work is underway to prevent the fire in Veniza from advancing and reaching the nearby coastal town of Megara.
