Two firefighting helicopters collide in Greece killing two crew members

On August 2, 2026, two leased Bell firefighting helicopters collided in mid-air while battling a major wildfire near Psatha in the Attica-Boeotia region. The aircraft had departed from Elefsina Airport. The crash resulted in the deaths of a 46-year-old Danish pilot, Rune Kindal, and a Greek fire service coordinator. Two other crew members, a 48-year-old British pilot named Andrew Hutchinson and a second Greek official, survived the incident with injuries and were transported to the 251 General Air Force Hospital. Hutchinson reportedly managed to perform an emergency landing, allowing both him and his colleague to exit the helicopter seconds before it exploded.

Greek authorities have launched an investigation into the circumstances of the collision, with the Hellenic Police leading the inquiry under the direction of the prosecutor. Experts and officials are exploring multiple potential scenarios, including human error, lack of visual contact, and environmental factors such as high winds and poor visibility caused by smoke. Following the tragedy, all Bell helicopters were grounded as a safety precaution. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen expressed her condolences to the families of the victims and solidarity with Greece and Denmark. The site of the crash remains cordoned off while forensic and technical teams continue their analysis of the wreckage and flight records.