A firefighting helicopter operated by Precision crashed on September 20, 2026, while battling the Dome Fire in California's Yosemite National Park, killing both crew members on board. The aircraft went down at approximately 14:55 local time near Ostrander Lake in Mariposa, California, while conducting water drops.
The US Federal Aviation Administration identified the aircraft as a Eurocopter AS332 Super Puma. Operator Precision confirmed the deaths of two team members. The National Transportation Safety Board will lead the accident investigation with assistance from the FAA.
Emergency recovery efforts continued on September 21 but faced complications from the active wildfire and rugged, remote terrain. The Dome Fire, which began on September 15, has heavily relied on helicopter operations for crew transport and water drops.
