Two Firefighting Helicopters Collide in Greece Amid Ongoing Wildfire Battle

On Sunday, two firefighting helicopters crashed while combating a wildfire west of Athens, leading to an extensive search and rescue mission near Psatha, located about 56 kilometers from the capital of Greece. According to the Greek broadcaster ERT, both helicopters were manned by crews of two. While one helicopter's pilots established communication with fire brigade headquarters, the status of the second crew remains uncertain. The collision took place amid Greece's struggle to manage several wildfires intensified by strong winds, which obstructed aircraft from accessing water. Although nearly 500 firefighters and 23 aircraft were initially deployed, the severe conditions hampered their efforts. This incident echoes the tragic 2018 Mati wildfire, which claimed 104 lives, marking it as Europe's deadliest fire this century. The search for the missing crew members is ongoing.