Access to the crash site of a firefighting helicopter in central Utah remains blocked by a large wildfire, more than 24 hours after the incident on Friday morning. The fate of the two passengers onboard is unknown, as authorities cannot safely reach the area.
The Sikorsky S-64 helicopter, contracted by the US Forest Service, crashed while responding to the Widemouth 2 fire. This blaze, sparked by lightning in late July, has now swept through over 114,600 acres and is 24% contained as of Saturday.
State authorities confirmed the helicopter crash ignited a new fire within the existing perimeter. The US Forest Service stated that ground resources attempted to respond but access was compromised by the emergent fire, and they would not place lives at risk until the area is deemed safe.
The US National Interagency Fire Center, a coalition of state and federal agencies, reported in a Saturday daily report that the helicopter's "pilot and one crewmember were fatally injured." A moment of silence was observed at a Saturday morning briefing to honour the passengers. However, the US Forest Service has declined to confirm their status, advising against speculation due to previous false reports and rumours.
Investigators from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) were en route to Richfield, Utah, as of Friday. They will document the scene and retrieve the aircraft once they can safely access the crash site.