Two crew members have been killed after two helicopters collided mid-air in Greece while battling wildfires.
The fatalities were a Danish pilot and a Greek fire service liaison officer. A British pilot and another Greek co-ordinator on the second helicopter survived.
Video of the incident some 65 km (42 miles) west of the capital Athens shows one of the two Bell helicopters hitting the rotors of the other, which bursts into flames and crashes in a ravine. The other aircraft made an emergency landing.
Wildfires have broken out in Greece this week, prompting mass evacuations. Other European states have also suffered devastating blazes during prolonged heatwaves.
According to the Greek Fire Service, the two Bell helicopters leased from Australian company McDermott Aviation collided on Sunday while taking part in efforts to tackle a large wildfire burning on the Attica-Boeotia border.
The crew members of one aircraft were rescued alive, while the second crew were recovered unconscious and later pronounced dead.
Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis expressed his "deepest sorrow" over the accident.
In a post on X, he said the loss of the Greek coordinator and Danish pilot "fills us all with grief". He also sent condolences to their families.
The names of the four crew members have not been publicly released.
John McDermott, the founder and president of McDermott Aviation, said his staff's "thoughts and deepest condolences are with the families, friends and colleagues of those affected by this tragic incident."
"McDermott Aviation is working closely with the relevant authorities and will continue to assist as they undertake their investigation into the incident," he added.
Erickson Air-Crane and Chinook helicopters, as well as Canadair water-bombing aircraft are continuing to carry out firefighting efforts.
Wildfires have broken out in Greece this week, prompting mass evacuations. Other European states have also suffered devastating blazes during prolonged heatwaves.
According to the Greek Fire Service, the two Bell helicopters leased from Australian company McDermott Aviation collided on Sunday while taking part in efforts to tackle a large wildfire burning on the Attica-Boeotia border.
The crew members of one aircraft were rescued alive, while the second crew were recovered unconscious and later pronounced dead.
Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis expressed his "deepest sorrow" over the accident.
In a post on X, he said the loss of the Greek coordinator and Danish pilot "fills us all with grief". He also sent condolences to their families.