Two members of a helicopter crew lost their lives on Sunday when their aircraft experienced a catastrophic failure while engaged in firefighting operations at Yosemite National Park .
A Type 1 Super Puma helicopter, operated by Price Valley Helitack of Idaho , was providing support for suppression efforts related to the Dome Fire. The incident took place while firefighting personnel were engaged in combating the Dome Fire , which had consumed in excess of 3,000 acres following its initiation on September 15.
The aircraft carried no firefighting personnel aboard, according to wildfire management officials. Fly Precision, an aerospace corporation, verified that both crew members perished, characterizing the incident as profoundly “devastating”.
The underlying cause is presently subject to investigation by both the National Transportation Safety Board and the Federal Aviation Administration.
