Pilots killed in horror Yosemite helicopter crash IDd as more details emerge

The identities of two pilots killed in a horrific helicopter crash in Yosemite National Park have been revealed.Greg King and Ryan Cutter, who work for Fly Precision, died Sunday after their Eurocopter AS32 went down while fighting the Dome Fire in Mariposa County.The private firefighting company announced the pilots’ deaths.The biggest news, opinion and culture shaping California right now.

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Never miss a story “It is with unimaginable sadness and broken hearts that we share the loss of two beloved members of our team,” Fly Precision said.“We are devastated by this loss and are struggling to find the words.We ask for privacy and compassion for their families and our team as we grieve this tremendous loss.“Please keep their families, loved ones, and our entire team in your thoughts and prayers during this incredibly difficult time,” they added.Fly Precision leaders called King, 56, a “legend” in the Alaska flying community.

“Greg was one of the best of the best in the community for his piloting skills, his judgment, and his personality,” Jones, chief of aviation for Fly Precision, said.Cutter appeared to work with King often, sharing a picture of himself taken by the veteran aviator in August on Facebook.He’s pictured piloting an aircraft near a wildfire.“Just can’t keep your feet on the ground can ya,” a commenter wrote on the picture.

“Facts,” he replied.The agency called their loss “devastating.” “We are mourning both pilots who bravely supported firefighting efforts, and our hearts go out to their families,” it added.King and Cutter were using the helicopter’s water bucket to help suppress the fire when the aircraft went down, Benjamin Cossel, a spokesperson with the Federal Complex Incident Management Team overseeing the firefighting response, told KCRA.The cause of ...