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2 firefighting helicopters collide midair near Athens as Europe's wildfire emergency rages

Elena Becatoros, Associated Press Elena Becatoros, Associated Press Thomas Adamson, Associated Press Thomas Adamson, Associated Press ATHENS, Greece (AP) — Two Greek firefighting helicopters collided in midair Sunday while battling a wind-driven wildfire west of Athens, sending one aircraft crashing to the ground, footage showed. The four crew members were recovered after the collision, the Greek fire department said, adding that two were recovered safely, while the other two were unconscious. 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 most immediate danger was in Greece.

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Scoop News DeskAthens · Published Sunday, August 2, 2026 at 3:49 PM UTCUpdated Sunday, August 2, 2026 at 5:02 PM UTC

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Over the past four decades, wildfires have been linked to nearly 800 deaths across much of Europe, according to the European Environment Agency. Earlier this week, two firefighters died fighting a fire on Crete, while a third was killed in the Peloponnese. "A pristine forest, a paradise, was surrendered to the hands of the fire," local farmer Minas Tzortzanis said Saturday. "There are no words to explain what has happened.

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Version 2updated
Sunday, August 2, 2026 at 4:07 PM UTC
Elena Becatoros, Associated Press Elena Becatoros, Associated Press Thomas Adamson, Associated Press Thomas Adamson, Associated Press ATHENS, Greece (AP) — Two Greek firefighting helicopters collided in midair Sunday while battling a wind-driven wildfire west of Athens, sending one aircraft crashing to the ground, footage showed. The four crew members were recovered after the collision, the Greek fire department said, adding that two were recovered safely, while the other two were unconscious. 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 most immediate danger was in Greece.
Version 3updated
Sunday, August 2, 2026 at 4:08 PM UTC
Elena Becatoros, Associated Press Elena Becatoros, Associated Press Thomas Adamson, Associated Press Thomas Adamson, Associated Press ATHENS, Greece (AP) — Two Greek firefighting helicopters collided in midair Sunday while battling a wind-driven wildfire west of Athens, sending one aircraft crashing to the ground, footage showed. The four crew members were recovered after the collision, the Greek fire department said, adding that two were recovered safely, while the other two were unconscious. 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 most immediate danger was in Greece.
Version 4unpublished
Sunday, August 2, 2026 at 5:02 PM UTC
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