Two Bell firefighting helicopters collided mid-air while battling a major wildfire near Psatha, west of Athens, on Sunday, killing two crew members and highlighting the dangers faced by aerial firefighting crews during Greece’s severe wildfire season.
The helicopters, each carrying a two-person crew, had taken off from Elefsina Air Base to assist efforts against the fast-moving blaze. Following the collision, emergency services launched a search-and-rescue operation. Initially, one crew was found with minor injuries while the second crew was reported unresponsive. Authorities later confirmed that a Danish pilot and a Greek liaison officer aboard one helicopter had died, while the British pilot and Greek coordinator from the second aircraft survived with injuries and were taken to Athens’ General Air Force Hospital.
According to early reports from Greek media, investigators are examining the possibility of human error as a contributing factor, although the official investigation has only just begun. In accordance with established procedures, Greece temporarily grounded all Bell firefighting helicopters operating on the Psatha fire until further notice, while aerial firefighting continued using other aircraft types, including Erickson Air-Cranes, Canadair water bombers and Chinook helicopters.
The accident occurred as Greece battles multiple large wildfires under extreme heat and strong winds. The blaze near Psatha has destroyed homes, forced evacuations and required hundreds of firefighters, supported by dozens of aircraft, to prevent its spread towards populated areas west of Athens.
? Two Bell 214ST firefighting helicopters collided mid-air while battling a major forest fire in the Psatha area, west of Athens, Greece, triggering a search and rescue operation.
?? Aircraft involved: One helicopter was Bell 214ST N511EV (serial 28105, built in 1982), while… pic.twitter.com/Jwd3qpLAfj
— FL360aero (@fl360aero) August 2, 2026