A pilot died when a single-engine firefighting plane crashed right into a Montana reservoir Wednesday afternoon whereas scooping up water to battle a close-by blaze, officers stated.
The crash was reported shortly after midday on Hauser Reservoir on the Missouri River northeast of Helena in Lewis and Clark County.
Law enforcement and search and rescue groups in boats responded, together with divers from Gallatin County.
Officials stated later in a information convention that the “scooper” plane’s pilot, a 45-year-old lady, died. They didn’t present a reputation pending notification of subsequent of kin who don’t reside in the United States, the Independent Record newspaper reported.
“This is not just coming in and flying and picking up water. These are dangerous types of environments,” Lewis and Clark County Sheriff Leo Dutton stated.
The Federal Aviation Administration, the National Transportation Safety Board and the U.S. Forest Service will examine the crash of the Air Tractor AT-802, which was working for the Forest Service and contracted out of Idaho.
STR/NurPhoto by way of Getty Images
The pilot was a part of a crew preventing the close by Horse Gulch Fire, a 600-acre human-caused blaze burning in dense timber in the Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest about 5 miles south of the city of York. The hearth began Tuesday, and the sheriff’s workplace ordered some residents to evacuate Wednesday afternoon. The hearth has no containment.
“We are deeply saddened to learn of the passing of the young female wildland firefighter who tragically lost her life responding to the Horse Gulch fire in Helena, Montana,” Montana Gov. Greg Gianforte and Idaho Gov. Brad Little stated in a joint assertion. “Our first responders and wildland firefighters put their lives on the line to quickly respond to threats and protect our communities. It’s a true act of bravery to run toward a fire.”
High temperatures in the Helena space have been above 90 levels Fahrenheit for a number of days and had been forecast to succeed in 100 levels on Wednesday.
