Two helicopter pilots were killed Friday after a Sikorsky Skycrane crashed while assigned to the Widemouth 2 Fire in central Utah, according to the Sevier County Sheriff’s Office.
The crash occurred at approximately 10:40am on August 7th near the wildfire. A pilot and crewmember were aboard the helicopter when it went down. The crash ignited vegetation in the surrounding area, creating dangerous conditions that prevented ground crews and search and rescue personnel from immediately reaching the site.
The pilots were employed by Helicopter Transport Services, also known as HTS, which operates aircraft under an exclusive use contract with the U.S. Forest Service. Officials confirmed the deaths after crews were able to safely access the crash site and conduct a search and rescue operation. The families of the pilots have been notified.
Crash Scene Complicated By Wildfire
The fire sparked by the helicopter crash made access to the site particularly difficult. Ground resources and search and rescue teams initially attempted to respond but the active fire prevented them from safely reaching the wreckage.
Once the area was considered safe, crews entered the crash site and recovered the victims. The Sevier County Sheriff and medical examiner subsequently confirmed that both pilots had died. The incident occurred as crews were working on the Widemouth 2 Fire, which is being managed with assistance from multiple agencies across the Great Basin Geographic Area.
NTSB And FAA Investigating
The cause of the helicopter crash remains under investigation. The National Transportation Safety Board and Federal Aviation Administration are leading the investigation and are expected to provide additional information as the process continues. The Sheriff’s Office urged the public to rely on official sources for updates regarding the crash and the ongoing wildfire response.
Helicopters play a critical role in wildland firefighting, particularly during incidents where steep terrain, limited road access, or rapidly changing fire conditions make ground operations difficult. Aircraft such as the Sikorsky Skycrane are frequently used to deliver large quantities of water to active fire zones.
Agencies Respond To Fatal Utah Crash
The Sevier County Sheriff’s Office praised the agencies involved in the response, including the Utah Highway Patrol DPS Aero Bureau, Fishlake National Forest, the Wide Mouth Fire incident management team, and Great Basin Team 2.
Officials also expressed their condolences to the pilots’ families, friends, and coworkers. The Sheriff’s Office said the loss will weigh heavily on the wildland fire community and emphasized its support for those continuing to work on the Widemouth 2 Fire and other wildfires across the region.
Our deepest condolences are with the friends, family, and loved ones of the deceased at this time.