Terrace pilot killed in helicopter crash while fighting wildfire in Greece
Published 3:29 pm Friday, August 7, 2026
A Danish pilot living in Terrace has been killed in a helicopter crash while fighting a wildfire west of Athens, Greece on Aug. 2, 2026.
Two helicopters, one piloted by Rune Kyndal, 46, came into contact with each other in midair, European news agencies report.
Kyndal and a Greek firefighting coordinator were killed when their helicopter crashed. The British pilot of the second helicopter made an emergency landing and he and a Greek coordinator are now in hospital.
Kyndal had worked as a heli-skiing pilot in Terrace but switched to fighting fires because he believed it was too dangerous, reports indicate.
Authorities are now investigating the reasons behind the accident involving the two Bell helicopters.
Greek prime minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis expressed his sorrow at the accident.
Regarded as a skilled pilot, Kyndal was presented with an award from Transport Canada after he had flown 5,000 hours without incidents.
There have now been five people killed in Greece this summer while fighting some of the worst wildfires now burning in Europe.
