Overview
- Two contracted Bell firefighting helicopters collided over the coastal village of Psatha on Sunday while fighting a major wildfire, leaving two occupants dead and two taken to the 251st Aviation Hospital.
- Greek authorities ordered all Bell helicopters operating in the Psatha zone to remain grounded and opened formal investigations into weather, pilot communications, flight paths and aircraft condition.
- Strong winds, heavy smoke and a crowded mix of rented aerial assets complicated operations in the area and limited safe use of some aircraft during the multi-front fire emergency.
- Ground crews and non-Bell aircraft continued containment and evacuation work after the crash, and calmer winds later allowed additional tankers to resume water drops as multiple fronts still threaten the outskirts of Athens.
- Officials will formally identify the victims and families will be notified, and investigators’ findings could prompt changes to the way contracted aircraft and international crews are coordinated in Greek wildfire operations.