Tragic Helicopter Crash in Yosemite Claims Two Lives During Firefighting Efforts
WHO:
CNN - Two members of a helicopter crew from Precision, LLC, known as Flyprecision.
CNN - Adrienne Freeman, spokesperson for the US Forest Service.
WHAT:
NBC News - The helicopter was conducting water bucket drops when it crashed.
ABC News - The crash occurred during firefighting operations, according to the Federal Aviation Administration.
CNN - The FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board will investigate the crash, and the Forest Service will also look into the incident.
CNN - The Dome Fire grew by 283 acres Saturday night, and was reported to be 3,222 acres and 15% contained as of Monday morning.
CNN - Precision, LLC stated, “We are devastated by this loss and are struggling to find the words,” regarding the deaths of the two crew members.
CNN - The Dome Fire was reported to be 3,222 acres and 15% contained as of the following morning after the crash.
CNN - Two members of the helicopter crew were killed in a crash.
CNN - The helicopter was a Eurocopter AS32.
CNN - The Dome Fire grew by 283 acres and was 3,222 acres and 15% contained as of the following morning.
CNN - The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) will post a preliminary report on the incident within 30 days.
WHERE:
CNN - The crash occurred in Yosemite National Park.
CNN - The helicopter crew was contracted to the Forest Service’s Price Valley Rappel Crew in Idaho.
WHEN:
CNN - The NTSB will post a preliminary report on the incident within 30 days.
CNN - The helicopter crashed just before 3 p.m. PT on a Sunday.
CNN - NTSB investigators will travel to the scene “when fire conditions allow.”
WHY:
CNN - The helicopter was conducting suppression operations on the Dome Fire when it crashed.
HOW:
IJR - The helicopter was conducting water bucket drops when it crashed.
CNN - The helicopter was conducting water bucket drops when it crashed.
CNN - The helicopter was engaged in firefighting efforts when the incident occurred.
(UPDATED September 22, 2026 09:57 UTC)
A helicopter conducting water bucket drops has crashed, according to NBC News. The National Transportation Safety Board, or NTSB, is expected to release a preliminary report on the incident within the next 30 days. As details continue to emerge, authorities are investigating the circumstances surrounding the crash.
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(UPDATED September 21, 2026 21:59 UTC)
A helicopter crashed while conducting water bucket drops during firefighting operations, as reported by the Federal Aviation Administration. The incident occurred at 21:59 UTC and has raised concerns about safety protocols in aerial firefighting. Authorities are currently investigating the circumstances surrounding the crash.
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(UPDATED September 21, 2026 20:57 UTC)
The FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board are set to investigate a recent crash, with the Forest Service also looking into the incident. Meanwhile, the Dome Fire has expanded by 283 acres, bringing its total size to 3,222 acres, with containment currently at 15%. Authorities continue to monitor the situation closely as they work to manage the fire and its impacts.
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(UPDATED September 21, 2026 19:01 UTC)
Precision, LLC expressed their devastation over the loss of two crew members following a helicopter crash while conducting water bucket drops. The Dome Fire, which the helicopter was assisting with, has grown to 3,222 acres and is currently only 15% contained. As the situation unfolds, the community continues to grapple with the impact of this tragic event.
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(UPDATED September 21, 2026 18:01 UTC)
Tragically, two members of a helicopter crew from Precision, LLC, known as Flyprecision, were killed in a crash while conducting firefighting operations on the Dome Fire in Yosemite National Park. The helicopter, a Eurocopter AS32, went down just before 3 p.m. PT on a Sunday, and the fire has since grown to 3,222 acres with only 15% containment as of the following morning. The National Transportation Safety Board will provide a preliminary report on the incident within 30 days, and investigators will travel to the scene when fire conditions allow.