Australian firefighting helicopters collide west of Athens, killing two crew members
Two firefighting helicopters owned company McDermott Aviation collided in midair west of Athens on Sunday, killing two crew members during a wildfire operation. The crash happened in the Psatha area, near Porto Germeno, as strong winds pushed flames across land west of the Greek capital.
Greek fire crews were already battling a fast-moving fire when the aircraft came together at low altitude. One helicopter went down in flames. The other dumped its water load and flew on. Greek media posted video that appeared to capture the moment of impact, though Reuters said it had not verified the footage.
Deadly mission over Psatha
According to Greek authorities and Australian media reports, the two helicopters were Bell models leased by McDermott Aviation. Each aircraft carried two crew members. Two people aboard one helicopter died — a Greek fire service liaison officer and a Danish pilot, sources said — while the crew on the other aircraft, a Greek national and a British national, survived.
The incident has drawn immediate scrutiny because it unfolded during one of Europe’s most volatile wildfire periods. Greece has been under pressure from dry conditions and strong winds, while fires elsewhere in southern Europe have also strained crews. In France, firefighters were still guarding a large burn scar. In Spain, some major fires had slowed. But Greece remained active and dangerous.
Response and investigation
Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis expressed sorrow over the accident. The Greek fire service said investigations had started into what caused the collision. Officials are examining possible human error, mechanical failure and weather conditions, according to reporting cited by local and international outlets.
A source from Greece’s civil protection ministry said that all Bell helicopters across the country had been grounded after the crash. That move underscores how seriously authorities are treating the incident, even as fires continue to threaten communities.
McDermott Aviation said it was deeply saddened by the deaths. Founder and president John McDermott said both crews were doing critical work to support firefighting operations and protect communities. The company has deployed a large fleet in Greece before, including 15 helicopters during the 2025 fire season.
Winds reached Force 10 on the Beaufort scale, Mitsotakis said, a stark measure of how difficult the firefight had become. Investigators now face a grim task: work out how two aircraft assigned to save lives ended up colliding in the smoke and wind west of Athens.
