2 crew members dead, 2 found alive after firefighting helicopters collide in Greece

Greece’s fire department says the collision of two firefighting helicopters battling a major wildfire burning out of control west of Athens on Sunday left two…

Greece’s fire department says the collision of two firefighting helicopters battling a major wildfire burning out of control west of Athens on Sunday left two crew members dead, while another two were recovered alive.

The fire department said the dead crew members were one Greek and one Danish national, while the two who were recovered alive were one Greek and one British national.

Foreign firefighting and helicopter crews are often deployed in Greece to help tackle wildfires during the country’s hot, dry summers.

The collision laid bare the danger at the most volatile front of Europe’s wildfire emergency.

Strong winds drove flames deeper into the region of the Greek capital and forced fresh evacuations, France guarded a still-burning scar four times the size of Paris, while Spain’s major fires stopped advancing.

The aircraft were Bell helicopters operating over the Psatha area west of Athens, each with a two-person crew.