Helicopters in Mid‑Air Collision While Fighting Greek Wildfires

Sun Sep 06 2026 04:15:38 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

A Greek air force helicopter collided with a Romanian aircraft during a firefighting mission, injuring crew and sparking a blaze.

A mid‑air collision between two helicopters occurred 65 km west of Athens as they combated a series of wildfires. One aircraft struck the other’s propellers, set on fire and both crashed into a ravine, leaving two crew members unconscious and the others with minor injuries. Greek media report the crews were two Greeks and two Romanians, all taken to a military hospital. The incident comes amid a crisis of 500 firefighters battling flames across seven Greek regions, and follows similar European outbreaks in France and Spain. Climate‑driven conditions – a wet winter followed by rapid drying – are intensifying the fire threat ahead.

A Greek air force helicopter collided with a Romanian aircraft 65 km west of Athens while fighting a series of wildfires, a video shows the aircraft’s propellers being struck and both machines erupting into flames before plunging into a ravine.

All four crew members were injured: two were found unconscious and later transported to the 251st Air Force General Hospital; the other two suffered light injuries. Greek media confirmed the crews were comprised of two Greek and two Romanian pilots.

Wildfires have broken out across seven Greek regions – Porto Germeno, Psatha, Fokida, Megara and Kefalonia – prompting the mobilization of more than 500 firefighters over the past 72 hours.

The incident is part of a wider European fire crisis: earlier this week France and Spain battled massive blazes that have largely been contained, though some flames persist and evacuees are returning home.

Experts attribute the increased fire risk to climate change. A mild, wet winter spurred vegetation growth that has since dried in successive heatwaves, creating abundant dry fuel for fires. The Greek Fire Department said the collision occurred during a forest‑firefighting operation in the Psatha area.

With two helicopters destroyed in a single event, authorities are calling for a review of safety protocols during aerial firefighting missions, which rely heavily on rapid response and coordination in high‑wind environments.