A dignified transfer is scheduled for Tuesday, Sept. 29, for two pilots who died on Sept. 20 when a helicopter crashed during wildfire operations in Yosemite National Park. According to a Sept. 28 report, the pilots were working the Dome Fire at the time of the accident.
Ryan Cutter and Greg King were members of Precision and served as an exclusive-use helicopter crew for the Payette National Forest. They were assigned to the Price Valley Rappel Crew based in New Meadows.
Payette National Forest officials stated that Cutter and King were skilled pilots who worked alongside firefighters during suppression efforts. They played an important role in helping ground crews make progress on the Dome Fire.
The pilots will be returned to their respective homes via different routes. Greg King will be returned to Palmer, Alaska, through Palmer Airport. Ryan Cutter will be returned to Park City, Utah, through Heber Airport.
Honor processions will take place at both locations as the pilots are brought home to their families. Specific details regarding the processions will be provided separately for each location.
Payette National Forest officials said that tragedies such as this serve as a reminder of the work performed by firefighters and partners. The cause of the helicopter crash remains under investigation.
The dignified transfer for the pilots is set to take place on Tuesday, Sept. 29.
