The critical minutes before the fatal helicopter collision in Psatha – What the investigation shows
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A lapse in the coordination of aerial firefighting resources may have been responsible for the collision of two leased Augusta Bell helicopters battling the wildfire in Boeotia and Western Attica, which left two people dead.
- 18 Αυγούστου 2026 11:45
The Homicide Department of the Directorate for Combating Organised Crime is conducting a full-scale investigation into the circumstances surrounding the tragic accident in Psatha, where two leased firefighting helicopters operated by an Australian-owned company collided and crashed.
So far, investigators have gathered witness statements, while officers who were responsible for ground coordination are also expected to give testimony.
The wreckage remains at the crash site to this day, as efforts have been under way to determine the appropriate way to recover it, identify a suitable location for its storage and establish how the debris will be collected, with some pieces located in difficult-to-access terrain.
A storage site has now been secured at the Hellenic Air Force base in Tatoi, and the wreckage is expected to be transferred there within the week so that the three members of the appointed panel of experts can examine it in detail and obtain the audio recordings of radio communications.
At the same time, Hellenic Police officers remain in constant contact with experts from the Australian-owned company whose helicopters had been leased by the Fire Service, while the family of the Greek officer who lost his life in the accident has also shown keen interest in the progress of the investigation.
