A firefighting helicopter crashed in Cabazon on Sunday evening after a midair collision with another helicopter fighting the same fire, killing all three crew members aboard, authorities said. The other helicopter managed to land safely.
Those killed aboard what was described as a Bell helicopter in an observation and coordination role were a Cal Fire division chief, a Cal Fire captain and a contract pilot, said Cal Fire Southern Region Chief David Fulcher. He and other fire personnel wore black tape over their badges during a midnight news conference as they mourned the department’s loss.
A Sikorsky S-64 helicopter, better known as a “Skycrane,” with two aboard was able to land safely following the collision, Fulcher said.
“While engaged in the firefight, two helicopters collided,” he said. “Tragically, all three members perished” who were aboard the helicopter that crashed.
#BREAKING: A firefighting helicopter was involved in a mid-air collision while battling a fire in Riverside County. https://t.co/dz8LGL1c9I
— KCAL News (@kcalnews) August 7, 2023
“This was a tragic loss for the community, the fire service community at Cal Fire and the Riverside County Fire Department,” Fulcher said.
“While this was a tragic event, we are thankful it wasn’t worse,” he said. “The individuals in the first helicopter were able to land safely without incident and no one else was hurt.
“We think about this and how it affects the families. We have lost three great individuals. Three fathers. Three husbands. Three friends. Three sons,” he said.
After the crash, emergency personnel were called to the area near Apache Trail and Bonita Avenue/Pipeline Road around 7:20 p.m. for an air emergency, according to the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department. Cabazon is a community along the 10 Freeway east of Banning. The crash happened south of the 10.
The helicopters had been called to a nearby fire that Cal Fire/Riverside County Fire Department…
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