3 killed in California firefighting helicopter collision
Xinhua News Agency, Los Angeles, August 7 (Reporter Gao Shan) California fire officials confirmed on the 7th that two firefighting helicopters collided during a firefighting mission in the southern part of the state on the 6th, causing one helicopter to crash and killing all three people on board.
David Fulcher, head of the Southern Region of the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, said at a press conference on the 7th that on the evening of the 6th, a fire broke out in a building in Riverside County and spread to the surrounding vegetation. Firefighting helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft were involved in fighting the fire, and two of the helicopters had a mid-air collision. One helicopter made a successful emergency landing, while the other crashed, killing the helicopter pilot and two fire officials.
Local media reported that the helicopter that crashed was used to observe the fire and another helicopter was used to spray fire retardant or water.
The U.S. National Transportation Safety Board said on the 7th that it is investigating the accident.
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2023-08-07 18:11:00
