BREAKING: Two firefighting helicopters collided Sunday while battling a wind-driven wildfire in the Porto Germeno area west of Athens. Video captured one of the aircraft crashing to the ground after the midair collision.

Dude in the top helicopter:

Helicopters have to be the dumbest mode of transportation ever created. Couldn't pay me to fly in one of these death traps.

At least he tried to put out the fire he caused before they hit the ground

What a tragedy! And while doing a good service. At the same time it seems like you would have to be seriously negligent to make a mistake like this. So much room when flying in the sky, yet…🤦🏻‍♂️

Why they gotta be so fucking close when you got all the sky in the world

Autonomous helicopters or many drones should be doing this work. Too many humans die from helicopter crashes.

What the fuck! How did they not see that. No excuse is good enough!

How does the pilot of the helicopter that caused the crash not see the copter right in front?

It seems to me that the pilots weren't communicating drop sequence and coordinating distances and run directions. The radio should have been filled with chatter between them. "I'm going to make the first run from XX meters. Come in behind me for the 2nd run. Maintain minimum safe distance of XXX meters from my tail". Yes, firefighting aviation is a bitch, but you HAVE to communicate and coordinate. I think we're going to find that they weren't coordinating their run.

It looks like helicopter behind and on top lost the visual of the front helicopter and jumped the queue :(

He was concentrated on the fire and didn’t even see the other helicopter until it was too late

Gale force winds and low altitude water drops is equals to zero margin for error. These crews were operating in brutal conditions to protect communities west of Athens. Two firefighters lost while trying to save others. Honoring the Danish pilot and Greek officer who gave their lives. Condolences to their families and the surviving crew.

Another careless act… I hope no live was lost?

Is this a Dei thing?

Nice flying there Ace!!!

Why the hell did the second one come in so hot?

One crew member was miraculously found alive, the other is missing

Were Ray Charles and Stevie Wonder flying them? wtf

holy shit, i hope pilots survived?

Why would they even risk getting that close. Makes no sense.

That seriously looked intentional. Praying for all.

@SecDuffy @FAANews @NTSB @NTSB_Newsroom Why would they have been in such close proximity to each other ?

In California, we have a mobile flight controller who flies above the area where all the Cal Fire aircraft are flying to watch and control the airspace. But we've been fighting devastating wildfires for years....this is so sad.

Unfortunately the downed helicopter was in that blind spot zone for helicopters. It shouldn't happen. A lack of situational awareness and more focus on putting out the fire rather than the 1st and most important priority: Aviate. Very sad. Hopefully lessons will be learned.

do we know who the pilot was and what was her name

Aircrafts colliding is fascinating. The most open vacant space in any part of the planet, and you hit something.

That was the definition of a major fuck up They have the entire sky and they hit each other I want to know exactly who the pilots were but I have a feeling I have some ideas

Two were killed. A Greek and a Dane. Helicopters might hover, but that's 3 tonnes being kept up in the air by a spinning blade. That's why it dropped out of the sky quickly. A tragedy. RIP. 🙏

@SCSharks71 This looks intentional- are humans this retarded?

It’s almost as if he was trying to kill the guy/s. How do you not see that Helo you’re coming up on then on top off??

I mean how in the world does that happen ?

The air cover provided during these mega fires is extremely dangerous for many reasons - collisions as this article mentions, but also the "heat/downdrafts" and other hazards as they fly very low to "drop the water/solution". We lost a friend who flew many missions during the fire season.

That incident was deliberate. You can see the top helicopter is clearly following, manoeuvring and positioning itself to the rotors of the one below.. They had no chance of escape or survival. Criminal act with intent.

Well the one that ran into other one at least he dumped his water to try and put out burning one that he hit. 🤪🤪🤪