Helicopter Collision Amid Greek Wildfires Turns Chaotic

Sun Sep 06 2026 05:43:58 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

A mid‑air collision caused by firefighting helicopters deepened the chaos in Greece’s expanding wildfires.

Two military helicopters collided over Greece’s western outskirts while battling a wildfire near Athens. The impact set a wreck into flames, forcing both aircraft to crash in a ravine and injuring four crew members, including two Greeks and two Romanians. The incident unfolds against a backdrop of widespread fires exacerbated by strong winds, highlighting the escalating danger of climate‑driven blazes in southern Europe.

Helicopter Collision Amid Greek Wildfires Turns Chaotic

Helicopters fighting Greece wildfires — Several helicopters have been battling flames across Greece

Two helicopters collided in Greece as they were fighting a blaze. Video shows one aircraft striking the other’s propeller, setting the wreck aflame. Both fell into a ravine, leaving four crew members – two Greeks and two Romanians – with injuries.

A series of wildfires has erupted across Greece this week, forcing residents to evacuate. Strong winds have hampered suppression efforts, while neighbouring France and Spain have battled large fires near Madrid and Bordeaux. Those fires are now contained, though intense heat persists.

Greek media describe a “titanic battle” across regions from Porto Germeno to Kefalonia, where over 500 firefighters have been scrambling for 72 hours. The mid‑air collision occurred during a forest‑firefighting operation in the Psatha area, according to the fire department.

Wildfires often spark from accidental or deliberate human activity, but climate change fuels conditions that make them more common. A mild, wet winter encouraged vegetation growth, which then dries in successive hot spells, creating ample fuel for fires.