<p class="wp-block-paragraph">The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) confirmed on Monday that two individuals died while fighting fires in California’s Yosemite National Park after their helicopter crashed in Mariposa County.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">The incident occurred on Sunday afternoon while battling the Dome fire, which began last Tuesday near Wawona Dome inside Yosemite National Park, involving over 500 crisis responders. The FAA stated that one passenger and one crew member on board were killed after the helicopter "crashed under unknown circumstances while on water bucket drops." </p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">The Federal Complex Incident Management Team, overseeing the firefighting response, indicated that two helicopter pilots were conducting water drops as part of a wildland firefighting crew that specializes in using ropes to descend from helicopters to reach otherwise inaccessible terrain. They were helitack rappelling when the aircraft went down southeast of Ostrander Lake, according to the FCIMT, and were the only two people aboard the helicopter.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Authorities have identified one of the deceased as Greg King, a pilot from Alaska. The Alaska Division of Forestry & Fire Protection stated, "King, a pilot for Precision Helicopters, a contract helicopter company, was a cherished member of our wildland fire family, having served on wildland fires in Alaska and extensively alongside the Division of Forestry & Fire Protection. Greg was a dedicated aviator and a dear friend to many of us. We are mourning both pilots who bravely supported firefighting efforts, and our hearts go out to their families." </p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Firefighting contractor FlyPrecision confirmed that two team members died while battling the Dome fire.</p>
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img alt="Dome fire burning in Yosemite National Park." class="wp-image-4736682" height="682" src="https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/AP26264639978382.jpg?w=696" width="1024" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">This photo provided by the National Park Service shows the Dome fire burning in Yosemite National Park on Wednesday, Sept. 16, 2026. (National Park Service via AP)</figcaption></figure>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">The Alaska Department of Natural Resources reported that the cause of the crash remains under investigation by the FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board.</p>