Authorities probe deadly California crash of helicopters fighting wildfire: ‘This should never happen’
LOS ANGELES — Authorities on Monday were trying to discern how two helicopters battling a small fire in Riverside County collided, leaving three people dead.
The two choppers struck each other around 7:05 p.m. Pacific time Sunday near Cabazon, with one crashing and the other landing safely. The incident marks a rare instance in which the aviation battle of a California wildfire resulted in a midair crash.
The three people killed in the crash were identified as California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection Assistant Chief Josh Bischof, Cal Fire Capt. Tim Rodriguez and contract pilot Tony Sousa.
The aircraft that crashed was a Bell helicopter responsible for observation and coordination, officials said. The second helicopter — a Sikorsky S-64, also called a Skycrane — was
