A pilot that had been battling wildfires in Yosemite died when his air tanker crashed into a steep canyon wall, authorities said.
Rescue crews hiking through the rugged area came across the wreckage and confirmed that the pilot had died, just hours after the crash was reported, said Alyssa Smith, a spokeswoman for the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, CBS News reported.
The name of the pilot isn’t be released until all family members are notified, Ms. Smith said.
The plane crashed about 4:30 p.m. about a mile from the park’s western entrance, CBS News reported. California Highways Patrol Sgt. Chris Michael said he was on a nearby road, directing traffic, when he heard and saw the plane crash.
“I heard a large explosion, I looked up on the step canyon wall and saw aircraft debris was actually raining down the side of the mountain after the impact,” he said, The Associated Press reported. “It hit the steep side of the canyon wall. It appeared from the direction he was going, he was trying to make a drop down the side of the canyon when he hit the canyon wall.”
• Cheryl K. Chumley can be reached at cchumley@washingtontimes.com.
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