British pilot Andrew Hutchinson managed to land his stricken helicopter and escape with a Greek officer seconds before it exploded following a mid-air collision during a firefighting operation in Psatha, western Attica.
The 48-year-old subsequently underwent spinal surgery in Athens. His family described his survival as a “miracle”, crediting his experience and ability to land the helicopter without engine power.
Mid-air collision during firefighting operation
Hutchinson was helping combat the major wildfire in western Attica when the helicopter he was flying collided with another Bell helicopter.
A Danish pilot and a Greek Fire Service liaison officer travelling aboard the second helicopter were killed. The injured were taken to the 251 Air Force General Hospital in Athens.
Both aircraft had taken off from the Elefsina military airbase.
Footage of the accident shows the helicopters’ rotor blades making contact. One of the aircraft then caught fire and crashed into a ravine.
Η σύγκρουση και πτώση των δυο ελικοπτέρων στη φωτιά στην Ψάθα.
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Emergency landing without engine power
Hutchinson told his family that he had carried out an emergency landing without engine power, allowing him and the Greek officer aboard his helicopter to escape shortly before the aircraft exploded.
His uncle, Michael Hutchinson, told The Times that few pilots would have been capable of landing a helicopter under such conditions.
“He crashed into the forest and managed to get out at the last moment. His phone was completely burnt and he left it behind. He and the officer who was with him got out of the helicopter shortly before it exploded,” he said.
Describing a previous flight during which his nephew demonstrated an emergency landing through autorotation, Michael Hutchinson said he had been impressed by his ability.
“He told me, ‘I’m going to switch off the engine.’ I looked at him in disbelief, but he eventually managed to land it without the engine. He has been flying helicopters for many years. He is extremely careful and knows exactly what he is doing,” he added.
Extensive aerial firefighting experience
Hutchinson, a father of three, owns a helicopter company in Northallerton, Yorkshire. He has extensive experience in aerial firefighting operations in several countries.
According to his family, he recently helped tackle wildfires in Wales and had previously spent several months supporting firefighting operations in Australia.
His wife, Dawn, and their three children travelled to Athens to be with him. The pilot underwent spinal surgery, during which metal plates and screws were inserted.
He is expected to be flown back to Britain once his condition allows.
Investigation into collision continues
The two helicopters involved had been leased from Australian company McDermott Aviation, which has supported wildfire operations in Greece for the past seven years.
Following the collision, the Greek Fire Service grounded all Bell helicopters operating in the area pending the investigation into the cause of the accident.
Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis expressed his sorrow over the incident and offered his condolences to the families of the Greek coordinator and Danish pilot who died during the operation.
Source: protothema.gr
