Two crew members were killed and two others survived after two firefighting helicopters collided in mid-air while battling a major wildfire in western Attica, Greece, on Sunday.
ATHENS, Aug. 2 (Xinhua) -- Two crew members were killed and two others survived after two firefighting helicopters collided in mid-air while battling a major wildfire in western Attica on Sunday, Greek authorities said.
Fire Service spokesperson Vassilis Vathrakogiannis confirmed the deaths of a Danish pilot and a Greek firefighting coordinator at a press briefing. The survivors were identified as a British pilot and a Greek firefighting coordinator, one of whom was injured.
The helicopters, each carrying two crew members, collided while conducting aerial firefighting operations and crashed near the coastal area of Psatha, prompting an immediate search and rescue operation.
The two Bell helicopters were rented to support firefighting operations against the large wildfire burning across Attica and Boeotia. Authorities said the exact cause and circumstances of the collision remain under investigation.
The accident came as Greece continued to battle multiple large wildfires amid hot, dry and windy conditions that have stretched firefighting resources across the country. Enditem
