A helicopter prison escape was foiled in Greece on Sunday by an inmate in a dramatic attempt to steal his freedom.

According to the report, a helicopter swopped down on a prison courtyard as armed men on board fired on prison guards while lowering a rope for Panagiotis Vlastos, convicted killer, in his fourth attempt to escape the prison.

However the escape attempt was foiled after the prisoner was shot and helicopter was forced to land in the prison parking lot.

"The dramatic escape attempt was one of a handful involving helicopters in Greece, and the first time such plans have failed," according to ABC News.

Authorities found the helicopter to be carrying two armed passengers, a pilot and a technician.

First the helicopter using a hook from the rope to rip off the chicken-wire fence surrounding Trikala prison. However the attempt was unsuccessful to pull down the fence so the rope was lowered to the inmate to whisk him away.

The armed passengers were using AK-47 assault to fire on the prison guards. One guard, inside a post suffered a minor injury from the flying glass from the gunfire.

Vlastos, 43, convicted murderer and racketeer serving a life term did manage to climb into the helicopter however was injured in the shootout and fell from about 10 feet height into the courtyard, forcing the helicopter to land in the parking lot next to the prison.

Authorities said they recovered about more than 500 bullets from the helicopter. The Ministry of Justice, in statements describing the escape attempt, added the helicopter passengers also carried, but did not use, "improvised explosive devices."