A mid-air collision involving two helicopters occurred in the Psatha region of Attica. The incident took place while emergency crews were battling intense wildfires west of Athens.
The mid-air clash near the Gulf of Corinth
The collision in the Psatha region of Attica resulted in one helicopter erupting into a fireball and plummeting to the ground. According to the report, both aircraft had departed from the Elefsina military airport and were transporting two passengers each when the accident occurred.. Striking footage captured the moment the propellers clashed , sending the aircraft into a violent descent. While emergency services have confirmed that crew members from one of the helicopters have been located and are safe, the immediate aftermath remains chaotic for responders on the ground.
The Prime Minister's warning regarding 73 kph winds
High-velocity winds played a critical role in the dangerous conditions surrounding the Psatha crash. As the source reports, Greece's prime minister had issued a warning just hours before the collision, stating that firefighting aircraft could not operate safely in such strong winds. Doctor and firefighter Giorgos Doulas noted that wind gusts were exceeding 73 kph (45 mph), making the fire's direction unpreictable and the environment extremely hazardous for responders.
This incident occurs amidst a broader pattern of extreme weather across Europe, where successive record-breaking heatwaves have left vegetation parched and ready to burn. In central Greece, the village of Viotia saw approximately 500 people, many of them tourists, left stranded after a fire broke out on Friday morning. similarly, in the town of Agios Vasileios, over 200 residents were forced to evacuate by sea to escape the advancing flames.
100 destroyed homes and the deployment of international crews
The wildfires in the region north of Athens have already caused significant destruction, including the loss of over 100 homes. To combat the spreading flames, nearly 500 Greek firefighters have been deployed to the area, receiving assistance from emergency crews sent from France and Romania. The fires have also impacted a military firing range and have threatened popular tourist destinations such as the islands of Crete, Paros, and Lesvos.
The British Foreign Office has noted the high risk of wildfires in the region, though it has not advised against traveling to Greece. Officials have urged travelers to ensure their mobile phones are registered to receive emergency alerts to stay informed of shifting fire lines. The situation remains volatile as gale-force winds continue to fuel the flames near Agia Paraskevi and Porto Germeno.
The status of the second aircraft from Elefsina military airport
Significant questions remain regarding the fate of the second helicopter involved in the collision.. While one crew has been accounted for, a search-and-rescue operation is still actiively underway to locate the second aircraft and its occupants. It remains unverified whteher the two passengers on the second helicopter have been found, or if the wreckage of the second aircraft has been located following the crash near the Gulf of Corinth.
Furthermore, the source does not clarify if the passengers on the first, "safe" helicopter have been fully accounted for or if they sustained injuries during the collision. As rescue teams continue their work, the exact location of the second aircraft's debris remains a primary focus for the emergency services operating in Attica.
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