France Wildfires

An Airbus helicopter lets a Bambi Bucket full of water go over a firezone, near Blagon, southwestern France, Friday, July 31, 2026.

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

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

Two firefighting helicopters collided Sunday while battling a wildfire near Athens. Footage showed one helicopter crashing to the ground. Each helicopter had a two-person crew, and a search-and-rescue operation is underway. Authorities have not provided information on the crews’ condition. Meanwhile, Europe faces a wildfire crisis on multiple fronts. In Greece, flames spread through the Athens region, forcing evacuations. France is dealing with a massive wildfire in Gironde, with thousands evacuated. Spain's fires have stopped advancing, but the threat remains. Scientists link these extreme conditions to human-caused climate change, making such events more likely.