Key facts
- Two helicopter pilots died Sunday afternoon in Yosemite National Park.
- The pilots were battling the Dome Fire when their helicopter crashed.
- The crash occurred around 3 p.m. southeast of Ostrander Lake.
- The Dome Fire has burned over 3,000 acres since starting on September 15.
- The fire is approximately 15% contained.
- The FAA and NTSB will investigate the crash.
Two helicopter pilots were killed on Sunday afternoon while fighting the Dome Fire in Yosemite National Park. The helicopter crashed around 3 p.m. southeast of Ostrander Lake while conducting water drops over the blaze, according to the Federal Aviation Administration.
The pilots were employed by the aerospace company Precision and were part of a helitack rappelling crew, which uses ropes to descend from helicopters into difficult terrain. The circumstances surrounding the crash were not immediately released.
The Dome Fire, which ignited on September 15, has burned more than 3,000 acres and is approximately 15% contained. Roughly 580 people are involved in fighting the blaze, which is spreading across rugged terrain.
This incident marks one of the deadliest years for wildfire fatalities in recent history, with at least 14 deaths recorded this year. The Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board are investigating the crash.