Two pilots have died after their planes collided mid-air as they tried to fight a wildfire burning in Southern Nevada, The Federal Aviation Administration confirmed July 30.
The incident occurred around 12:55 p.m. near Caliente, Nevada, about 120 miles north of Las Vegas on Thursday and involved two Single Engine Air Tankers (SEATs) which were working to help contain the Bishop Fire.
The names of the two victims have not yet been released and no one was injured on the ground. A recovery operation is now underway and the pilots’ families were being notified.
The Federal Aviation Administration and National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is set to conduct an investigation into the incident and a recovery operation is currently underway.
SEATs are small airplanes used to support firefighters on the ground. They can deliver up to 800 gallons of fire retardant and operate in areas where larger air tankers cannot. Contract pilots play an important role in wildland firefighting efforts as the Bureau of Land Management protects the public, natural landscapes, wildlife habitat, recreational areas, and other values and resources.
The cause of the fire has not yet been established.
Officials are hopeful the fire can be contained by Aug. 5, and they are currently working to keep the blaze out of nearby Rainbow Canyon.
