Firefighting helicopter crashes in Yosemite National Park while battling fire, killing two

A firefighting helicopter plummeted to the ground in Yosemite National Park on Sunday afternoon while attempting to battle a wildfire in California, resulting in the tragic loss of two pilots, authorities confirmed on Monday. Greg King, affiliated with contract firm Precision, was one of the pilots who perished, according to a statement released by the Alaska Division of Forestry and Fire Protection.

The identity of the second pilot remains undisclosed as family members are being notified. The Super Puma helicopter, which was engaged in water bucket drops on the Dome Fire, crashed southeast of Ostrander Lake, reported Connie Lau, a spokesperson for the California team overseeing the fire response. The Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board are currently investigating the cause of the crash.

This incident marks the fifth helicopter pilot fatality linked to wildfires in Colorado, Utah, and California this year. So far in 2026, the United States has witnessed an intense fire season, exacerbated by historically low winter snowpack, record temperatures, and prolonged drought in the US West. As of now, at least 18 individuals have lost their lives while fighting US wildfires, surpassing the typical annual average of 17 deaths in recent decades, as per data from the Wildland Fire Lessons Learned federal agency.