Helicopter crash near Yosemite results in fatalities of two pilots

Two helicopter pilots were killed when their aircraft crashed on Sunday afternoon while conducting water drops on a wildfire at Yosemite National Park, according to officials. The pilots were the only individuals on board and were employed by the contract aircraft company Precision. They were working with a wildland firefighting crew that specializes in helitack rappelling, which involves using ropes to descend from helicopters to reach inaccessible terrain. The Super Puma helicopter was using a water bucket to help suppress the fire when it crashed southeast of Ostrander Lake, stated Benjamin Cossel, a spokesperson for the Federal Complex Incident Management Team overseeing the firefighting response. Details regarding the circumstances of the crash have not been released, and the incident will be investigated by the Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board. Precision expressed their grief in a social media post, stating, "It is with unimaginable sadness and broken hearts that we share the loss of two beloved members of our team. We are devastated by this loss and are struggling to find the words. We ask for privacy and compassion for their families and our team as we grieve this tremendous loss." The names of the pilots have not been disclosed. Approximately 580 personnel are currently fighting the Dome Fire, which began on September 15 near Wawona, California, according to the National Interagency Fire Center. The fire has burned approximately 4.7 square miles (12.3 square kilometers) and is about 15% contained. The crash site is located roughly 9 miles (14 kilometers) south of Yosemite's El Capitan and about 7 miles (11 kilometers) northeast of Wawona. Reports indicate that at least 14 individuals have died while assisting with wildfires in the U.S. this year, marking the highest number since 2022, which recorded 25 deaths. In August, two helicopter pilots died while fighting a fire in Utah, and another helicopter pilot crashed in Colorado. Earlier this month, a firefighter experienced a medical emergency while combating a wildfire in Oklahoma, and another firefighter in Oregon was injured by a falling tree. Additional fatalities have occurred this year, including a wildfire officer in Oklahoma and a firefighter in Minnesota. In June, four firefighters were trapped in a fire in western Colorado.