The injured Greek interpreter aboard one of the firefighting helicopters says the crew never realized they had struck another aircraft until after releasing their water load

Family says veteran British pilot Andrew Hutchinson survived through skill and experience after last week's fatal midair collision over a western Attica wildfire as investigators continue probing the cause of the crash

The helicopter had taken off from Ioannina Airport before going down in the Aoos reservoir during an aerial firefighting operation

The Defense Ministry said a formal investigation is now underway to establish the circumstances of the incident.

The helicopter, carrying a total of eight people — three crew members and five passengers — had departed from the capital, Accra, at 09:12 local time. It was en route to Obuasi, a major gold-mining town, where a national event was scheduled to take place.

Initial reports indicate that the aircraft was carrying four American tourists and a Greek pilot.