Two firefighting helicopters collide mid-air over Athens
Two helicopters collided in Athens while battling a wildfire. Video of the crash has sparked criticism over the lack of aerial coordination.
English · Original discussion in Spanish · Published
Two helicopters collide in Athens: firefighting turns into a farce
What does it take for two helicopters fighting the same fire to end up colliding with each other? In Athens, the answer turned out to be: nothing more than bad luck and terrible coordination. A video captured during the firefighting operation shows one of the aircraft ramming the other and knocking it down. Moments later, the stricken machine «pees» into the fire, in what some have already dubbed the most literal way of trying to put out the flames.
The incident has drawn comparisons with Spain. While the standard protocol there includes a control aircraft that clears the way for planes loading water, in the Greek capital the pilots seem to have launched into the operation without a clear plan, like a schoolyard game. The quip that they «have no rear-view mirrors» is not just a joke: it highlights the lack of visual separation between aircraft working side by side, sometimes just metres apart.
The cost of the farce is not only financial. Two helicopters out of service, the fire left unchecked, and a country already struggling with wildfires this summer. The question now is whether Greece will review its protocols, or whether the next episode of this aerial soap opera will be broadcast live. Given what we have seen, it may be worth staying tuned.
What does it take for two helicopters fighting the same fire to end up colliding with each other? In Athens, the answer turned out to be: nothing more than bad luck and terrible coordination. A video captured during the firefighting operation shows one of the aircraft ramming the other and knocking it down. Moments later, the stricken machine «pees» into the fire, in what some have already dubbed the most literal way of trying to put out the flames.
The incident has drawn comparisons with Spain. While the standard protocol there includes a control aircraft that clears the way for planes loading water, in the Greek capital the pilots seem to have launched into the operation without a clear plan, like a schoolyard game. The quip that they «have no rear-view mirrors» is not just a joke: it highlights the lack of visual separation between aircraft working side by side, sometimes just metres apart.
The cost of the farce is not only financial. Two helicopters out of service, the fire left unchecked, and a country already struggling with wildfires this summer. The question now is whether Greece will review its protocols, or whether the next episode of this aerial soap opera will be broadcast live. Given what we have seen, it may be worth staying tuned.
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Summary of a discussion on Burbuja.info - Foro de economía, actualidad y política., translated from Spanish and reviewed before publication. Read the full discussion (10 replies).
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