MARIPOSA, Calif.. – A procession of first responders accompanied the two pilots killed on Sunday, September 20, 2026, when their Type-1 helicopter crashed during
the Dome Fire in Yosemite National Park. Firefighters, law enforcement officers, and other first responders from across the country were on hand to pay their respects along the procession route, which ran from the Mariposa Airport to Modesto.
The two men killed have been identified as Greg King and Ryan Cutter by their Oregon -based employer, Fly Precision.
“These two men brought honor to the mission. Their dedication and service will never be forgotten,” the team at Fly Precision wrote in an Instagram post.
The men were taking part in water bucket drops to battle the Dome Fire near Wawona on Sunday when their helicopter went down just before 3 p.m., according to a preliminary report by the Federal Aviation Administration. The cause of the crash is not yet known.
The Dome Fire has burned 3683 acres and is 15 percent contained.