Authorities are still investigating what caused two helicopters to crash in mid-air while fighting a southern California wildfire on Sunday, August 6. The NTSB is on the scene and investigating. One of the choppers was able to land safely but the three men aboard the other aircraft were killed, the pilot and two fire officials.
Mid-air chopper crash
On Monday, a spokesperson for the National Transportation Safety Board announced that their team of crash investigators is en route to the “spot where three people were killed after two helicopters collided in midair Sunday while fighting a fire in Southern California.”
Details are sparse but we do know that the choppers were “among six aircraft responding to the Broadway Fire, which began Sunday after a structure fire spread to nearby vegetation in Cabazon, a community in Riverside County.”
The NTSB reports that “a Bell 407 helicopter and a Sikorsky S-64E helicopter collided in the air.” The crash happened around “90 miles east of Los Angeles,” CalFire Southern Region Chief David Fulcher relates.
Firefighter helicopters crash while fighting fires in California #Breaking #News #California #Firefighters #Helicopter #Crash #Cabazon pic.twitter.com/fn2DDHPgY8
— Nathan Adams (@NateAdams5k) August 7, 2023
“The first helicopter was able to land safely nearby. Unfortunately, the second helicopter crashed, and tragically all three members perished.”
The victims killed in the crash are “a contracted pilot, a CalFire division chief and a CalFire captain.” They’re also officially listed as the “first victims of California’s 2023 fire season.”
The agency notes on their Facebook page that the “Broadway Fire covered about 3 acres when firefighters responded around 6 p.m. By shortly after 7 p.m., the forward rate of spread had been stopped.”
They started a new fire
Because of the crash, “a second 4-acre fire” was ignited. Chief Fulcher notes that one “has since been extinguished.” His priority is the men.
“I would like to express our deepest sympathies and sorrow to the families and coworkers of the personnel. This was a tragic loss for the community, the fire service community and CalFire and Riverside County Fire Department.”
Separately, Los Angeles Times is reporting that “Cal Fire identified two of the victims in an internal email as Assistant Chief Josh Bischof and Fire Capt. Tim Rodriguez.”
The fatal helicopter crash was reported near where crews were battling the Broadway Fire in Cabazon. https://t.co/07G4zdwS6n
— FOX 11 Los Angeles (@FOXLA) August 7, 2023
The third crash victim was “identified only as an ‘exclusive use helicopter pilot.’ Friends from Cal Fire confirmed the deaths online.”
The NTSB investigators are expected to arrive Monday afternoon “to document evidence at the scene and examine the aircraft. The investigation also will examine radar data, weather, maintenance records and the pilot’s medical records,” spokesperson Jennifer Gabris said.
“At this early stage of an investigation, NTSB does not state a cause but will provide factual information when available.” She also notes that a preliminary crash report “is likely within 15 days, but the full investigation could take one to two years to complete.“
