Two firefighting helicopters collide in midair in Greece... Two pilots killed

[Financial News] Two helicopters deployed to wildfire suppression operations in the Psatha area west of Athens, Greece, collided in midair, killing the two pilots on board.
On the 2nd local time, AFP and Euronews reported, citing the Greek Fire Service, that two rented Bell helicopters collided in the air while battling a wildfire spreading in strong winds. Video footage showed one helicopter exploding and crashing to the ground immediately after striking the underside of another aircraft.
The pilots who died were Danish and Greek nationals, respectively, while the occupants of the second helicopter involved in the collision were rescued safely.
According to ERT, Greece's public broadcaster, the fire authorities have suspended all Bell helicopter operations in the area until the exact cause of the accident is determined.
The helicopter involved was one of 15 leased from Australian company McDermott Aviation, which has supported Greece's wildfire suppression missions for the past seven years. Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis expressed condolences for the victims and said, "These have been very difficult days." The accident brought the number of wildfire-related deaths in Greece this week to five.
Authorities had warned for days that aerial firefighting operations were extremely dangerous because of strong gusts, and most aircraft had refrained from flying until two days earlier.
In a Facebook post, Prime Minister Mitsotakis stressed that Greece is facing extreme weather conditions, saying, "When strong winds of up to 100 kilometers per hour are blowing, even the dozens of aircraft we have cannot operate safely."
Hundreds of firefighters are now making every effort overnight to stop the flames from crossing the mountains and advancing toward the outskirts of Athens. A fire service spokesperson said more than 220 wildfires have broken out nationwide since the 27th, adding, "We are going through the most difficult period of this summer."
The National Observatory of Athens estimated that more than 6,500 hectares have already been damaged by wildfires near the Gulf of Corinth and the Porto Germeno area. A local weather expert warned that the actual affected area could exceed 10,000 hectares.
Meanwhile, Greece's ANA reported that a 44-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of deliberately starting a fire on Cephalonia Island, and that two employees of a power company were also arrested for causing a major wildfire near Porto Germeno by triggering sparks from power lines.


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