Tragic news emerged from Oregon on Friday as authorities confirmed the death of a pilot whose air tanker crashed near the scene of the Falls Fire. The pilot had been flying a single-engine air tanker contracted by the Bureau of Land Management to assist with the wildfire. The plane had been reported missing on Thursday before being located by a rescue team, with the pilot found deceased.
The identity of the pilot will be released at a later time by the Grant County Sheriff’s Office. The Falls Fire, which has burned over 140,000 acres and was 55 percent contained by Friday afternoon, posed a significant challenge to firefighting efforts in the area. The crash site was near Seneca, Oregon, in the Malheur National Forest.
NBC affiliate KTVB of Boise, Idaho, reported that the plane went missing shortly before 7 p.m. on Thursday, prompting deployment of the Oregon National Guard to assist in the search. The tragic incident highlights the dangers faced by firefighters and pilots working to combat wildfires, and serves as a sobering reminder of the risks involved in such operations. Our thoughts are with the pilot’s loved ones and colleagues during this difficult time.
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