US Two US firefighting helicopters collided while responding to a wildfire in California, killing three people on one helicopter.
Two helicopters, a Sikorsky S-64E and a smaller Bell 407, collided on the afternoon of August 6 while fighting a wildfire about 85 miles (137 kilometers) from Los Angeles, California. The Sikorsky landed safely, but the Bell crashed, killing all three people on board.
The Bell helicopter was used for observation and the Sikorsky was used to drop water or fire retardant, said David Fulcher, a fire department official.
The victims in the helicopter crash were Assistant Fire Chief Josh Bischof, 46; Cal Captain Tim Rodriguez, 44, and pilot Tony Sousa, 55. Local fire officials said Bischof and Rodriguez had 24 and 19 years of fire service experience, respectively.
The scene of the collision of two helicopters in California on August 7. Photo: AP
White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said US President Joe Biden sent his condolences to the relatives of the firefighters who died while bravely battling the wildfires.
The California State Capitol building flew flags at half-staff in memory of the three victims.
"This terrible tragedy is a reminder of the dangers our brave firefighters face every day while performing their duties to keep our communities safe. We respect, are deeply grateful for, and will always honor their sacrifice," California Governor Gavin Newsom said in a statement.
The California Fire Department has its own fleet of about 60 helicopters and contracts with private companies for additional vehicles. Local officials say such helicopter crashes are rare. The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating the incident.
Ngoc Anh (According to AP )
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