Two pilots die in helicopter crash fighting California wildfire
NEW MEXICO: Two pilots died when their helicopter crashed on Sunday afternoon while dropping water on a wildfire in California’s Yosemite National Park, authorities said on Monday.
Two pilots lost their lives on Sunday afternoon when their helicopter crashed while attempting to drop water on a wildfire in California's Yosemite National Park, authorities announced on Monday. The deceased pilots included Greg King from contract firm Precision, as reported by the Alaska Division of Forestry and Fire Protection.
The second pilot's identity remains undisclosed as family members are notified. The Super Puma helicopter transporting the pilots crashed southeast of Ostrander Lake during the operation, according to Connie Lau, a spokesperson for the California team managing the wildfire response. The National Transportation Safety Board and the Federal Aviation Administration are currently investigating the crash's cause.
This incident brings the total number of helicopter pilots killed in the line of duty while battling wildfires in Colorado, Utah, and California this year to five. The United States is facing an intense fire season, driven by historically low winter snowpack, record temperatures, and ongoing drought in the western region. As of now, at least 18 people have lost their lives in the fight against US wildfires in 2026, a figure surpassing the typical annual average of 17 deaths over recent decades, as reported by the Wildland Fire Lessons Learned federal agency.
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