Helicopters fighting Greece wildfires collide in mid-air

What the report says

Two firefighting helicopters collided in mid-air in Greece while responding to wildfires near Athens, according to BBC World News. The incident happened about 65 km west of the capital, in the Psatha area, during a forest firefighting operation. Video cited in the report shows one aircraft striking the other’s propellers before the second helicopter caught fire.

Both helicopters crashed into a ravine. Greek media reported that four crew members were involved: two were found unconscious and the other two suffered minor injuries. The crew, identified in media reports as two Greek and two Romanian personnel, were taken to the 251st Air Force General Hospital. The Fire Department said the collision happened during the firefighting mission.

The crash came as Greece faced several wildfires this week, with strong winds making it harder to contain the blazes and forcing residents in some areas to leave their homes. BBC World News said firefighters have been working across a wide stretch of territory, including areas such as Porto Germeno, Psatha, Fokida, Megara and Kefalonia, with more than 500 firefighters involved over the previous 72 hours.

The report also noted that much of southern Europe has been dealing with severe wildfire conditions after recent heatwaves. In general, dry vegetation and hot, windy weather can increase wildfire risk, although the BBC said climate change is making such conditions more common.