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New Delhi: Two firefighting helicopters collided mid-air on Sunday while battling a large wildfire west of Athens, killing two crew members in a tragic accident that unfolded as Greece struggled to contain multiple blazes driven by strong winds and extreme heat.

The collision occurred over the Psatha area near Porto Germeno, around 60 kilometres west of the Greek capital, where firefighters were attempting to stop flames from spreading through forested terrain. Dramatic videos circulating online showed one helicopter bursting into flames before crashing, while the second aircraft managed to make an emergency landing.

According to Greek authorities, the two helicopters were carrying two people each. A Danish pilot and a Greek fire service liaison officer aboard one aircraft were killed in the crash. The second helicopter, carrying a British pilot and another Greek crew member, landed safely, with both surviving the incident. The helicopters had taken off from Elefsina military airport and were operating under lease for Greece’s firefighting mission. The cause of the collision is under investigation.

The accident came as hundreds of firefighters, supported by aircraft and international crews, continued battling wind-driven wildfires across Greece. Gale-force winds have complicated aerial firefighting operations, with authorities ordering evacuations from several communities in western Attica as flames threatened homes and infrastructure. Officials have warned that weather conditions remain highly favourable for new fires, forcing emergency services to remain on high alert.

The helicopter crash has highlighted the risks faced by aerial firefighting crews, who often fly at low altitudes in turbulent conditions while carrying heavy water loads. Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis expressed condolences to the families of the victims, describing them as frontline responders who lost their lives protecting communities from the advancing fires.

The latest tragedy is part of a broader wildfire emergency affecting southern Europe. Greece, France and Spain have all been battling major blazes in recent days, with prolonged heatwaves, drought and strong winds creating ideal conditions for fires to spread rapidly. Scientists have repeatedly warned that climate change is increasing the frequency and intensity of extreme wildfire seasons across the Mediterranean region.