Two firefighting helicopters collided and crashed in Greece while fighting wildfires near Athens. The fate of the crews aboard both helicopters remains unknown as the wildfire situation remains severe.
Foreign news agencies reported on Sunday, 2 Aug 2026 GMT+7, that two helicopters assisting in firefighting operations west of Athens collided mid-air and crashed. The fate of the four crew members aboard both helicopters is still unclear.
Reports stated the incident occurred near the town of Psatha in the Attica region. Both helicopters were leased by the fire department for wildfire suppression, each carrying two crew members, having departed from Elefsina military airport before the crash.
This incident happened as Greece is battling intense wildfires across several regions, including mainland areas and popular tourist destinations like Crete. The fires have destroyed thousands of hectares and forced the evacuation of more than 8,000 residents and tourists.
Additionally, on Friday, about 500 people, mostly tourists, were evacuated from central Greece. Wildfires also erupted on the islands of Paros, Andros, and Kalymnos.
Greece is among several European countries facing severe wildfires after a prolonged heatwave created conditions conducive to widespread fire outbreaks.
/foreign-newshttps://www.thairath.co.th/news/foreign
Source:bbc