{
  "id": 9045820,
  "title": "Firefighting helicopter crashes in Yosemite National Park while battling fire, killing two",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/22/firefighting-helicopter-crashes-in-yosemite-national-park-while",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-22T00:50:41.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Jerusalem Post",
    "slug": "jerusalem-post",
    "url": "https://www.jpost.com/international/article-909225"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "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.",
  "summary": "The deaths brought the number of helicopter pilots killed in crashes in Colorado, Utah, and California this year fighting wildfires to five.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 7,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Hindustan Times - World News",
        "title": "Yosemite National Park tragedy: 2 pilots killed as helicopter crashes during Dome fire response",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/21/yosemite-national-park-tragedy-2-pilots-killed-as-helicopter-crashes",
        "published": "2026-09-21T15:29:09.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Winnipeg Free Press",
        "title": "Firefighting helicopter crashes near Yosemite, killing both pilots",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/21/firefighting-helicopter-crashes-near-yosemite-killing-both-pilots",
        "published": "2026-09-21T18:17:28.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "ABC News (US)",
        "title": "Helicopter fighting Yosemite National Park fire crashes, killing 2: Officials",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/21/helicopter-fighting-yosemite-national-park-fire-crashes-killing-2",
        "published": "2026-09-21T19:56:57.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "PBS NewsHour",
        "title": "Firefighting helicopter crashes near Yosemite, killing both pilots",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/21/firefighting-helicopter-crashes-near-yosemite-killing-both-pilots-9003229",
        "published": "2026-09-21T20:12:24.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The Guardian US",
        "title": "Two helicopter pilots killed while battling Yosemite fires",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/21/two-helicopter-pilots-killed-while-battling-yosemite-fires",
        "published": "2026-09-21T20:50:12.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Ajel English",
        "title": "Two pilots killed as firefighting helicopter crashes in California's Yosemite",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/21/two-pilots-killed-as-firefighting-helicopter-crashes-in-californias",
        "published": "2026-09-21T23:39:50.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}