Helicopter Firefighting Yosemite Dome Fire Crashes, Killing Two Pilots
A helicopter crashed while battling the Dome Fire in California's Yosemite National Park on Sunday, killing both pilots on board. The aircraft was performing water-dropping operations when it went down.
The Crash
A helicopter involved in efforts to battle a wildfire in California's Yosemite National Park crashed, killing the two pilots on board, according to fire officials. The crash occurred Sunday afternoon during firefighting operations, according to the Federal Aviation Administration. Two people were on board the Eurocopter AS32 helicopter, the agency said.
Operations During Crash
The helicopter was performing a water bucket operation and actively dropping water on the fire when it crashed southeast of Lake Ostrander in Yosemite, according to Benjamin Cossel, spokesperson for California Complex Incident Management Team 3, which is overseeing the Dome Fire response.
Recovery and Response
The remains of the pilots were successfully recovered Monday afternoon, Cossel told ABC News. "This is extremely challenging on everybody here," Cossel said. The incident highlights the hazardous nature of aerial firefighting operations, particularly during intense wildfire conditions.
Ongoing Wildfire Operations
The Dome Fire continues to be managed by California Complex Incident Management Team 3. The Dome Fire is seen in a photo released by Yosemite National Park on Sept. 15, 2026, indicating the fire has been active for over a week before the helicopter incident.