Two firefighting helicopters collide in Psatha

On August 2, 2026, two Bell-type firefighting helicopters collided in mid-air while operating over a large wildfire near Psatha in Western Attica, Greece. The collision occurred under difficult conditions near the Zahouli settlement on the Megara-Alepochori provincial road.

Emergency services launched a major search and rescue operation involving six ambulances, including a mobile medical unit, and 12 rescuers. According to the National Center for Emergency Care (EKAV), four individuals were retrieved from the crash site. Two of them sustained minor injuries, while two others were found unconscious. All four victims were transported to the 251 General Air Force Hospital in Athens for urgent treatment.

Following the collision, one crew initially managed to establish contact with the operations center, which helped narrow down the search area for the second aircraft. Authorities are currently managing the aftermath and investigating the precise circumstances that led to this aviation accident during fire suppression efforts.