Three people dead after two firefighter helicopters collide in California
The ships were fighting a fire. Crew members of one of them managed to land safely.
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Three people have died after two helicopters collided in mid-air. The incident occurred in Riverside, California, around 6 p.m., while the vehicles were fighting a fire.
This was reported by Cal Fire Southern Region Chief, David Fulcher, who also clarified that the crew members of the second aircraft are safe. "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," Flucher said.
The fire chief also reported that both helicopters - one was performing observer duties, the other was dispatching water - were working under exclusive contract for the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.
The collision generated a 4 acre or 1.6 hectare fire of its own, which was finally extinguished. The incident is under investigation.
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