Firefighting helicopter crashes in Yosemite during wildfire operations
Firefighting helicopter crashes in Yosemite during Dome Fire operations; two crew members killed.
Event / Disaster
Dome Fire Helicopter Crash
A firefighting helicopter crashed near Mariposa County, California on September 21, 2026, while conducting water-bucket drops for the Dome Fire in Yosemite National Park. Two crew members from FlyPrecision were killed. The Dome Fire ignited on September 16 and had burned over 3,000 acres with 15% containment as of September 22. NTSB and FAA are investigating.
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2026-09-21 to 2026-11-03 · UTC publication dates
Coverage begins 21 Sept, 20:56 UTC
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What happened
Two FlyPrecision crew members killed in Yosemite helicopter crash
Two crew members employed by FlyPrecision, a firefighting contractor, died in the helicopter crash at Yosemite National Park on September 21, 2026. The company issued a statement expressing devastation over the loss, requesting privacy and compassion for the victims' families and their team. The identities of the two crew members were not publicly released.
Helicopter crashes during wildfire firefighting operations in Yosemite National Park
A Eurocopter AS32 helicopter crashed on Sunday, September 21, 2026, at approximately 2:55 p.m. while conducting water-bucket drops to fight the Dome Fire in Yosemite National Park. The crash occurred in Mariposa County, California. Two crew members from FlyPrecision, a firefighting contractor, were aboard the aircraft and both were killed in the crash. The National Transportation Safety Board and Federal Aviation Administration are investigating the cause of the crash.
Dome Fire in Yosemite National Park burns over 3,000 acres
The Dome Fire ignited on Tuesday, September 16, 2026, in a remote area of Yosemite National Park just north of Wawona Dome. By Monday, September 22, 2026, the fire had charred more than 3,000 acres and was 15% contained. The fire is contained to Mariposa County. The cause of the fire was under investigation by the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.
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