Russia

Two firefighting helicopters collide west of Athens, two die — TV

TASS English · 2026-08-02

AI SUMMARY

• What happened: Two firefighting helicopters collided while battling wildfires west of Athens, resulting in the deaths of two crew members. One helicopter caught fire and crashed, while the other made an emergency landing. • Why it matters: This incident highlights the dangers faced by firefighting crews during wildfire season, particularly in regions prone to such disasters. The loss of life underscores the risks associated with aerial firefighting efforts. • What to watch next: Investigations into the cause of the collision are expected, along with updates on the condition of the surviving crew members and any potential changes to safety protocols for aerial firefighting operations.

Two firefighting helicopters collide west of Athens, two die — TV According to the television channel, one of the helicopters caught fire and crashed, while the other one made an emergency landing© Alexandros Michailidis/Shutterstock/FOTODOMATHENS, August 2. /TASS/. Two helicopters collided in Greece while fighting wildfires west of Athens, leaving two people dead, the Greek Skai television channel reported. According to the television channel, one of the helicopters caught fire and crashed, while the other one made an emergency landing. The crew of the first helicopter contacted the operations center. Medics are rushing to the scene to evacuate the pilot and his assistant who received minor injuries. Rescuers have reached the second helicopter as well. According to the documentonews.gr news portal, the second helicopter’s crew have died. According to the Proto Thema newspaper, the helicopters were leased from Romani’s fire service. Both pilots are Romanian nationals while their assistants are Gtreeks. TagsGreece15 civilians killed, 51 injured in Ukraine’s attacks on Energodar since late AprilFive apartments were destroyed by fire, CEO of Russia’s state nuclear corporation Rosatom Alexey Likhachev saidRead moreThe Sopranos star Vincent Pastore dies at 80The cause of death has not yet been announcedRead more15 civilians killed, 51 injured in Ukraine’s attacks on Energodar since late AprilFive apartments were destroyed by fire, CEO of Russia’s state nuclear corporation Rosatom Alexey Likhachev saidRead morePress review: Russia offers lifeline on Iran and Trump works art of nuke deal with SaudisTop stories from the Russian press on Monday, July 20thRead morePutin congratulates Russian railway workers on professional holidayThe Russian leader emphasized that Russian railway workers are successfully meeting modern challenges by embracing the latest technologiesRead moreIran denies reaching compromise deal with US on opening Strait of HormuzThere is no agreement on resuming shipping through the Strait of Hormuz and the reports spread on this score are false, the news agency Fars saidRead moreSuspects confess to murder: what is known about disappearance of two Russians in ThailandThe Thai police detained two suspects in connection to the disappearance of the Russian citizens in PattayaRead moreMoscow court seizes Jehovah’s Witnesses’ properties in Russian regionsThe court invalidated the deals between the Jehovah’s Witnesses Togliatti and Jehovah’s Witnesses in Sweden regarding 123 real estate properties, including 63 residential and commercial properties with a total area of more than 11,000 square metersRead moreRussia’s Battlegroup North downs over 120 Ukrainian UAVs heading to border areas at nightAir defense crews of the Battlegroup North destroyed all the detected UAVs of the Ukrainian armyRead moreGazprom notes significant rise in demand for helium amid Middle East crisisGazprom Deputy Chairman Vitaly Markelov stressed that Russia is the most reliable helium supplier in the worldRead moreUkraine to lose its Western territories sooner or later — PutinIt may not happen tomorrow or the day after tomorrow, It may take one year, two years, 10 years or 15 years, Russian President saidRead moreDonbass Dome system thwarts nearly 140 Ukrainian drone attacks in past weekUkrainian troops tried to attack a power substation in Donetsk with the use of a FP-2 fixed-wing drone equipped, the Federal Security Service’s department for the Donetsk People’s Republic saidRead moreChina becomes first foreign buyer of Russian S-400 air defense system — mediaMany foreign countries are interested in purchasing the cutting-edge missile defense system but the Russian defense industry is first of all obliged to supply weapons to the Russian Defense MinistryRead moreKing of Spain outraged at events in Ceuta — EFEThe monarch said the state must ensure the safety of autonomous cities and prevent the recurrence of such eventsRead moreWorld faces steep food prices due to conflicts and bad weather — news agencyAccording to its information, extreme heat, drought, and wildfires in Europe could lead to the most significant decline in grain production in decadesRead moreNearly 70,000 migrants leave Ceuta back for Morocco — news agencyAccording to its information, this figure may include migrants who arrived in the city before the influx of undocumented migrants on July 30Read moreIranian drones attack government facility in northern Kuwait — top brassAccording to al-Atwan, a "government facility in the north of the country" was attackedRead moreWildberries successfully repelling majority of attacks on its warehouses — KimThe company has completely overhauled fire safety operations at its warehouses since 2024, the founder of Wildberries and head of RWB saidRead moreRussia seeks sustainable peace in Ukraine conflict — Kremlin spokesmanAccording to Dmitry Peskov, The Ukraine process is currently on hold Read more16-year-old Russian Liutova becomes youngest tennis player in 7 years to reach WTA finalKristina Liutova is currently ranked 229th in the worldRead moreMoscow mayor conveys condolences to families of persons killed in restaurant blastThe perpetrators of this crime will necessarily be found and will face punishment they deserve, Sergey Sobyanin stressedRead moreFACTBOX: Pashinyan, Russia respond over Armenia rail concessionThe Armenian PM suggested that Yerevan could seek $2 bln per year from RussiaRead moreNumber of Colombian mercenaries in Ukraine eclipses 7,000 — defense sourcesCaptured Colombians almost unanimously claim that the conditions promised during recruitment are radically different from realityRead moreUS, Israel plan to carry out large-scale strikes on Iran’s energy infrastructure — TVEnergy infrastructure including power plants and refineries, would likely be targetedRead moreSafety of Zaporozhye plant’s operation not violated by short disconnection of power supplyIt said that during the short-term shutdown backup generators were startedRead moreTrump cancels strike on Iran after compromise proposal on Hormuz Strait operation — TVAccording to TV Channel 12, the compromise proposal implies that vessels entering the Persian Gulf through the Strait of Hormuz will stay in Iran’s territorial waters while vessels exiting the waterway will pass through Oman’s territorial watersRead moreUkrainian troops run for lives out of Konstantinovka in Donbass — expertAccording to Vitaly Kiselev, there was no Ukrainian commanders in the cityRead morePress review: Putin-Xi-Trump meeting rumors swirl while Kiev plays Poland against RussiaTop stories from the Russian press on Friday, July 31stRead moreRussia once again being threatened with draconian sanctions — MedvedevThe West’s sanctions policy "assumed a comprehensive, systemic character" in 2014, the Russian Deputy Security Council Chairman notedRead moreRussia deploys Black Kite drones to special military operation zoneAccording to the manufacturer, the drones, equipped with an autonomous navigation system, can deliver cargo to a designated point and return to base, even if communication, telemetry, or GPS are unavailableRead moreIN BRIEF: What we know about Ceuta migration crisis and causes behind itSpanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez visited Ceuta as he characterized the influx of migrants as "an attack, a violation of the territorial integrity" of the kingdomRead moreChina has a way to respond to US over new sanctions against Russia, its partners — expertТhe bill has the potential to trigger a crisis in US-China relations, Jake Werner, director of the East Asia Program at the Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft, told a TASS correspondentRead moreRussia developing new air defense system against Ukrainian UAVs — expertYevgeny Poddubny highlighted three key conditions for successful defense against enemy UAVs: the presence of radar stations, mobility, and well-coordinated interaction of unitsRead moreZelensky complains about air defense missile shortage in light of Russia’s massive strikeТhe Russian Defense Ministry reported that Kiev facilities producing military equipment for the Ukrainian armed forces had been struckRead moreUEFA to pass vote of no confidence in Infantino if he does not resign — newspaperAll 55 UEFA member countries are ready to pass a vote of no confidence in Infantino, the newspaper saidRead moreAir defense forces repelled nearly 150 UAVs in Rostov regionIn the Millerovsky District, falling UAV debris caused a cable fire on the roof of a grain elevatorRead moreForces in Europe want historical revenge through conflict with Russia — KremlinAmong the reasons for the Russophobia of European politicians, the Russian Presidential spokesman singled out "historical traditions"Read moreUkrainian military carries out 39 attacks on residential areas in DPR in past dayTen civilians were reported injuredRead moreUkrainian drone hits site several meters away from reactor unit at Zaporozhye nuke plantSuch actions by the Ukrainian side create direct risks for the nuclear facility, Head of Russia’s Rosatom civil nuclear power corporation Alexey Likhachev saidRead moreEurope’s average gas price climbs 50% in July to $637 per 1,000 cubic metersGas futures were trading at around $510 per 1,000 cubic meters on June 30, but closed at $709 on July 31Read moreUEFA looks for candidates to replace Infantino — The TelegraphUEFA believes that Infantino should be replaced by a "unifying figure" who will enjoy the support of countries from all continents Read morePlane crash in Peru kills 13 touristsThe cause of the crash is currently under investigationRead moreUS military aircraft that has been in service for 66 years flying over Persian GulfAccording to a source in the Middle East’s air traffic control services, a Boeing KC-135R Stratotanker is flying a circular route at an altitude of around six kilometers the immediate vicinity of the border of the airspace controlled by Iranian air traffic controllersRead moreUkraine’s total expenditures in 2026 to amount to $176.8 billionAs a result, the actual level of spending is approaching the country’s total GDPRead moreLondon, Stockholm courts issue unlawful rulings on Russian companies — PutinHead of the Russian Chamber of Commerce and Industry Sergey Katyrin stressed that they were politically motivatedRead moreSeven OPEC+ nations to increase daily oil production in September by 188,000 barrelsAs follows from the OPEC table, Russia’s quota will be increased by 62,000 barrels a dayRead moreArmenian president signs decree on appointing Pashinyan as republic’s PMAt the parliamentary elections held in Armenia on June 7, the ruling Civil Contract party led by Nikol Pashinyan gained 49.75% of the electors’ votesRead moreWoman who brought explosive to Moscow eatery could have been unaware of parcel’s contentsAll the threats cannot be neutralized, Alpha counter-terror group veteran Sergey Goncharov toldRead morePlane crash in Peru kills tourists from Italy, Germany, Spain — radioThe aircraft was carrying seven Italians, two Germans, and two Spaniards, alongside two Peruvian pilotsRead moreSpaceX turns head as Ukraine uses Starlink for strikes against Russia — expertAccording to Dmitry Kuzyakin, the corporation's management deliberately ignores the problem for the sake of political dividends and enormous financial benefits from equipment salesRead moreUS not getting involved in dispute with EU over Ukraine, but remains key player — diplomatEuropean leaders need the conflict to continue because they "have not yet finished building their military-industrial complex," Russian Foreign Ministry Ambassador-at-Large for the crimes of the Kiev regime Rodion Miroshnik notedRead moreFamous Nepalese record-breaking climber die in avalanche in PakistanHis death was confirmed by Elite Exped, a company co-founded by Nirmal PurjaRead moreUS redirects 30 vessels amid Iran naval blockade — CENTCOMAccording to CENTCOM, more than 20 US naval vessels are deployed in the Middle EastRead moreMercenaries from six countries fighting alongside Ukraine in Kharkov Region — authoritiesAccording to the official, some of the mercenaries, primarily those from NATO countries, pose themselves as motivated and experienced fightersRead moreBurnham can't improve Britain's economy, he knows how to make ‘cringe’ videos — DmitrievBritish Prime Minister Andy Burnham cannot present his program to stimulate economic growth, said Russian Presidential Special Representative for Investment and Economic Cooperation with Foreign CountriesRead moreUS pursues own interests in Ukraine settlement — Russian diplomatRussian Foreign Ministry Ambassador-at-Large Rodion Miroshnik pointed out that US President Donald Trump had repeatedly boasted about ending eight conflictsRead morePutin congratulates Russian paratroopers on Airborne Force DayRussian President said he was confident that the Airborne Force personnel would accomplish the assigned objectives with honor and make considerable contribution to ensuring Russia’s defense capabilityRead moreRussian envoy likens migrant influx into Ceuta to fall of RomeKirill Dmitriev accompanied his post with Thomas Cole's painting "Destruction" from "The Course of Empire" series and a photograph from CeutaRead moreUkraine’s attacks on Zaporozhye NPP’s critical facilities create risks to nuclear safetyCEO of Russia’s Rosatom civil nuclear power corporation Alexey Likhachev said earlier that overnight a Ukrainian combat drone hit the gallery connecting all the six power unitsRead moreEurope’s approaching dangerous point, sanctions, new ideas of Ukraine: Russian diplomatAccording to Maria Zakharova, Russia will soon announce its response to the 21st package of the European Union’s sanctionsRead moreUS used aerial bomb weighing almost ton to hit apartment building in Iran — NYTIt said that the diameter of the crater and fragments of ammunition indicate the use of a heavy MK-84 aerial bomb Read moreEU to hold emergency interior ministers’ videoconference on Ceuta on August 4 — sourceEarlier, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen supported the initiativeRead moreUkrainian positional defense tactics collapsing under Russian army pressure — officialYevgeny Lisnyak noted that the main problem for the Ukrainian armed forces is the lack of personnel and the quality of reinforcementsRead moreUS needs to be careful with licenses for production of its weapons — Trump on UkraineThe US leader said that Washington had not agreed to supply Kiev with either Patriot system technology or Tomahawk cruise missiles, and questioned this possibilityRead moreFrance’s PM says forest fires brought under controlSebastien Lecornu cited the Gironde department in southwestern France as an example, where, according to him, it was extremely difficult to fight a forest fire because it created its own air currents and spread unpredictablyRead moreRussian security officials put overall Ukrainian losses at roughly 3 millionAccording to various estimates, the figure has long exceeded 1 millionRead moreCENTCOM says no US planes damaged by Iranian strikesAccording to the US military, all missiles and drones were intercepted or failed to reach targeted areasRead moreRussian forces liberate 32 communities in July 2026 — TASS estimatesMost of the communities were in the Kharkov Region and the Donetsk People's RepublicRead moreWest to produce weapons for Ukraine in neighboring NATO countries — expertAccording to Alexander Stepanov, the Terminal Autonomy plant destroyed in Kiev was part of a hybrid modelRead moreRussian forces strike Kiev facilities producing missile, drone components — top brassThe Russian Armed Forces struck a facility in Kiev used for the assembly and storage of interceptor drones, the Defense Ministry reportedRead moreUkraine loses nearly 1,330 servicemen in special op zone over past 24 hours — top brassRussian air defenses also shot down 15 aerial bombs and 743 Ukrainian fixed-wing drones over the past 24 hours, the military notedRead morePalestine already fulfilled all its obligations under agreement with Israel — HamasHamas' representative in Iran Khaled Qaddoumi opined that the problem does not lie with the Palestinian side but with the current Israeli leadership’s unwillingness to implement the agreements that have been reachedRead moreNew rain-inducing technique developed by Russian hi-tech firmThe technique was successfully tested in late JulyRead moreMass demonstration for peace and against arms supplies to Ukraine marches in BerlinThe protesters also consider it unacceptable for the United States to use Ramstein Air Base to launch attacks on IranRead moreGerasimov sums up results of 2025 spring-summer campaign, longer-term tasksThe chief of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces stressed that the strategic initiative currently rests entirely with Russian forcesRead moreExplosion at Moscow cafe kills three people, injures 15 — Interior MinistryAn explosion occurred near a summer cafe at about 08:10 p.m.Read moreIN BRIEF: Three dead, 15 injured: what we know about explosion at cafe in center of MoscowThe police and Russia’s National Guard Rosgvardiya restricted access near the residential high-rise on Kudrinskaya Square, where the blast took placeRead morePress review: Logic behind Kiev attacks outside Russia and EU fights for sanctions lifeTop stories from the Russian press on Tuesday, July 28thRead moreRussian woman’s body found in suitcase in vicinity of Belgrade: what we knowAccording to the media outlet, several people, including a Turkish citizen, were detained on suspicion of her murderRead moreFACTBOX: S-500 Anti-Aircraft Missile SystemThe system is being developed with the capability to be operational for the next 25 yearsRead moreUkrainian attack on Yanina vessel nothing but act of maritime piracy — Rosatom CEOAlexey Likhachev emphasized that this was an ordinary, peaceful container ship sailing in international waters and carrying civilian goodsRead moreRussian forces eliminate Ukrainian troops, ground robots near Krasny Liman — ministryCombat footage shows direct hits by FPV drones, destroying several unmanned ground vehicles and taking out Ukrainian troops," the Russian Defense Ministry saidRead moreUkrainian army abandons weapons in three settlements while retreating — Defense MinistryThe Russian Defense Ministry earlier reported that Battlegroup North units established control over the settlement of Yurchenkovo in the Kharkov RegionRead moreRussian Geran, Gerbera drones, Lancet loitering munition hit 3 ships with military cargoesRussian forces carried out four strikes on targets involved in the transportation of weapons and military equipmentRead moreRussian forces hit over 80 vessels involved in cargo deliveries for Ukrainian army in JulyAmong them were two dry cargo ships, a sea ferry transporting military cargo and a screening boat, the Russian Defense Ministry saidRead moreOver 41,000 militants, their family members leave East Ghouta — Russian Defense MinistryThe militants left the settlements of Erbin, Jobar, Ein Tarma and ZamalkaRead moreRussian troops strike Ukrainian army’s transport, energy sites over past day — top brassThe Ukrainian army lost roughly 1,415 troops in battles with Russian forces in all the frontline areas over the past 24 hoursRead moreWest trying to provoke nuclear incident to start open war with Russia — expertRenat Karchaa noted that the section of the front line where Energodar and the ZNPP are located is overseen by UK military expertsRead moreUS to assess prospects for resuming Ukraine talks in coming weeks — RubioUS Secretary of State Marco Rubio asserted that Washington intends to take a number of steps in the coming weeks to assess the prospects for resuming peace talksRead moreUS still has resources to fuel Ukraine conflict — Russian diplomatRodion Miroshnik also pointed out that, at present, keeping the conflict in Ukraine going benefits WashingtonRead moreRussia’s Mariia Zhovner wins gold at European Rowing ChampionshipsThe Russian female athlete competing under a neutral status in the lightweight women’s single sculls cleared the distance in 7 minutes and 30.47 secondsRead morePolish foreign ministry presents note of protest to Russian ambassadorPolish foreign ministry spokesperson Maciej Wewior noted that it was a very brief, professional meetingRead moreHouthis say eight Saudi tankers change course amid naval blockadeThe Houthis added that they would continue enforcing the naval blockade of Saudi Arabia and attacking its vessels wherever possibleRead moreNumber of wounded in Moscow cafe blast rises to 21 — National Anti-Terrorism CommitteeA woman brought an improvised explosive device to the eateryRead moreCaspian Pipeline Consortium continues to receive 100,000 tons of oil per day - ministryHowever, it continues to receive oil from shippers and fill its storage tanks. Since August 1, the volume of oil received has been 100,000 tons per day, the Kazakh Energy Ministry reportedRead moreOPEC+ Monitoring Committee concerned over attacks on global energy infrastructureThe Committee also analyzed the current market situation and "emphasized the essential role of the Declaration of Cooperation in supporting the stability of global energy marketsRead moreTrump says he agreed to cancel a planned major strike on Iran to reach a deal with TehranDonald Trump also stressed that the US is ready "to go against the Islamic Republic of Iran, at levels of Military Terror, Strength, and Power not seen since World War II" Read morePaks NPP in Hungary to be shut down for first time in 44 years — MagyarHungarian Prime Minister Peter Magyar noted that the second-to-last power unit at the Paks NPP will be shut down on August 2 due to a further drop in the Danube's water levelRead moreRussia has sufficient potential to continue special military operation — KremlinRussia is ready for a peaceful resolution but has enough capability to act independently, Dmitry Peskov stressedRead moreThree people killed in Idaho shooting — TVIt remains unclear whether the gunman was among those killedRead more

Source: TASS English
RELATED NEWS

More Stories

All News
Russia

35 vessels redirected by US military since resumption of blockade of Iran — CENTCOM

• What happened: The US military has redirected 35 commercial vessels since July 14, following the resumption of its naval blockade against Iran, according to C...

Russia

Georgia optimistic about restoring strategic partnership with US — PM

• What happened: Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze expressed optimism about restoring the strategic partnership with the United States, following strain...

Russia

UEFA has built football’s apartheid system – now it wants to play savior

• What happened: UEFA has been criticized for creating a financial disparity in European football, favoring wealthy clubs and maintaining a system that limits o...

Russia

Israel eliminates three radicals in Gaza Strip — IDF

• What happened: The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) eliminated three armed radicals in the Gaza Strip, including a Hamas battalion commander, who were reportedly ...

Russia

Sunken Nazi warships resurface in Europe amid record heatwave (PHOTOS)

• What happened: Several World War II-era Nazi warships have resurfaced in the Danube River due to record low water levels caused by a significant heatwave and ...

Russia

Workers’ Party nominates Lula da Silva candidate for Brazilian president

• What happened: The Brazilian Workers’ Party has officially nominated incumbent President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva for re-election, with Vice President Gerald...