Two pilots die in helicopter crash while fighting California wildfire
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Two pilots die in helicopter crash while fighting California wildfire |
YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK, California — September 22, 2026
Two pilots died when their helicopter crashed while dropping water on the Dome Fire in California's Yosemite National Park, authorities said. The crash happened Sunday afternoon as crews were working to contain the wildfire.
Greg King, a pilot with contract firm Precision, was among those killed, according to the Alaska Division of Forestry and Fire Protection. The second pilot had not been publicly identified because officials were still notifying family members.
The pilots were using a Super Puma helicopter to make water drops on the fire when the aircraft crashed southeast of Ostrander Lake, according to Connie Lau, a spokesperson for the California team managing the firefighting response.
The cause of the crash is under investigation by the Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board. Officials have not said what caused the helicopter to go down.
The deaths bring to five the number of helicopter pilots killed in crashes while fighting wildfires in California, Colorado and Utah this year. At least 18 people have died while fighting wildfires across the United States in 2026, according to federal wildfire safety data cited in the report.
The United States is experiencing an intense wildfire season, with the western states facing conditions linked to low winter snowpack, high temperatures and prolonged drought. The conditions have increased the risks faced by firefighters and aircraft crews working to control fires across the region.
The Dome Fire has been burning in Yosemite National Park, where firefighting crews have been using aircraft and other resources to slow its spread. The investigation into the fatal crash is expected to examine the circumstances surrounding the helicopter's final water drop.
