While battling the blaze, the two helicopters collided. One of the helicopters landed safely, but “unfortunately, the second helicopter crashed and tragically all three members perished,' authorities said. The crash is being investigated by the NTSB.
CABAZON, Calif. — Two firefighting helicopters collided while responding to a blaze in Southern California, sending one to the ground in a crash that killed all three people on board.
“Unfortunately, the second helicopter crashed and tragically all three members perished, which included one Cal Fire Division chief, one Cal Fire captain and one contract client pilot,” Cal Fire Southern Region Chief David Fulcher told a news conference early Monday.Cal Fire and Riverside County Fire Department resources had been dispatched to a structure fire near the intersection of Broadway Street and South Ronda Avenue in the community of Cabazon, Fulcher said.
While battling the blaze, the two helicopters collided. The crash caused an additional 4-acre fire, which was extinguished. “Although this was a tragic event, we are also thankful today that it wasn’t worse,” Fulcher said. “The individuals in the first helicopter were able to able to land safely without incident and no one else was hurt.”
The helicopter pilot was flying under contract with the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, fire captain and spokesman Richard Cordova said Sunday evening.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Helicopters collide midair fighting California fires, killing threeTwo helicopters collided midair while fighting fires in Southern California — causing one to crash and killing all three crew members aboard. The accident happened in Cabazon, about 90 miles east of downtown Los Angeles.
Read more »
3 killed when helicopters crash mid-air while fighting fire in Southern CaliforniaTwo Southern California firefighters and a pilot were killed after a mid-air helicopter collision Sunday, officials said.
Read more »
3 killed after Cal Fire helicopter crashes mid-air near scene of firefight in CabazonFirefighters across Southern California were mourning the death of three firefighters who were killed in a mid-air collision between two Cal Fire helicopters in Cabazon in Riverside County.
Read more »
3 dead in firefighting helicopter crash in California after midair collision with 2nd helicopterFirefighting helicopter crashes, killing all three crew members, after it collided with a second helicopter while battling a blaze in southern California, fire officials say.
Read more »
3 dead in firefighting helicopter crash after midair collision with 2nd helicopterA Cal Fire helicopter crashed, killing all three crew members, after it collided with a second helicopter while fighting a blaze in southern California.
Read more »
3 killed after firefighting helicopters collide while battling Southern California blaze, officials say | CNNThree people were killed after two helicopters collided while fighting a blaze in the Southern California community of Cabazon, officials announced late Sunday night.
Read more »