Two firefighting helicopters collided mid-air while battling wildfires in Greece on Sunday afternoon, according to reports. One helicopter, a Bayle model, crashed and search efforts are ongoing for the crew.
This afternoon, two firefighting helicopters collided mid-air while battling a wildfire near Psatha, west of Athens, at around 16:35 Jerusalem time. The collision killed one pilot and injured another crew member. In the latest update, the crashed helicopter has been identified as a Bayle model, and search and rescue operations for the crew are ongoing.
The story unfolded rapidly. Initial reports from Greek fire services at 16:35 Jerusalem confirmed a collision and search operations. Minutes later, reports from Asaf Rozentzweig (N12) confirmed at least one pilot killed. Subsequent updates specified that the pilot of the second helicopter was killed, the captain of the first made contact with the coordination center, and another crew member was injured. The current update adds the identification of the crashed helicopter as a Bayle model and notes that search efforts continue.
Greece has been dealing with several wildfires in recent days, with firefighting resources deployed across the country. As The Zioneer reported earlier this year, the region has seen multiple firefighting aviation incidents, though none are directly linked to today's collision.
The full extent of casualties remains under confirmation by authorities. The condition of the injured crew member and the status of the captain who made contact have not been fully detailed. The cause of the collision is still under investigation.
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