Additional Coverage:
- 2 battling fire at Yosemite killed in helicopter crash (nbcnews.com)
Two helicopter pilots fighting the Dome Fire in Yosemite National Park tragically lost their lives in a crash on Sunday, the U.S. Forest Service confirmed.
The pilots, whose identities have not been released, were the sole occupants of the Eurocopter AS32 when the accident occurred during fire suppression efforts, according to Forest Service spokesperson Adrienne Freeman.
Both the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) have launched investigations into the crash. The FAA reported the incident happened around 3 p.m.
Sunday. NTSB officials stated they will access the crash site once fire conditions permit.
Fly Precision, the aviation company employing the pilots, expressed deep sorrow over the loss in a statement: “It is with unimaginable sadness and broken hearts that we share the loss of two beloved members of our team. We ask for privacy and compassion for their families and our team as we grieve this tremendous loss.”
Meanwhile, the Dome Fire, which ignited on September 15 near Mariposa, California, has grown to more than 3,000 acres and is only 15% contained, wildfire officials reported on Monday. The fire is spreading moderately and has encroached upon the area affected by the 2017 Empire Fire.
Authorities continue to investigate the cause of the blaze. The NTSB anticipates releasing a preliminary report on the helicopter crash within 30 days.
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- 2 battling fire at Yosemite killed in helicopter crash (nbcnews.com)