A Calfire air tanker based out of Hollister crashed Tuesday while fighting a fire at Yosemite National Park and the pilot was killed.
The plane operator has been identified as Geoffrey “Craig” Hunt, 62, of San Jose, a 13-year veteran pilot of Dyncorp International under contract with Calfire.
“We continue to mourn the tragic loss of Craig,” said Calfire Director Chief Ken Pimlott in a press release. “We know wildland firefighting is an inherently dangerous job, but Craig made the ultimate sacrifice.”
The Calfire S-2T airtanker crashed near the Dog Rock Fire burning near Yosemite, according to a tweet Tuesday from Calfire’s Public Information Officer Daniel Berlant.
“We are still working on trying to figure out what happened, what led up to the crash,” said Alyssa Smith, a spokesperson for Calfire, in an interview with the Free Lance on Wednesday afternoon.
Calfire is working closely with the National Transportation Safety Board – an independent federal agency charged by Congress with investigating every civil aviation accident in the United States – to determine the cause of the accident, she said.
“The actual crash site was into a steep canyon and it was difficult terrain, but the rescue team was able to extract the body earlier this morning,” Smith said.
The other S-2T tankers in the state have been grounded until the status of all planes and pilots is checked and the Calfire director gives them the okay to fly again, she said.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with Craig’s family during this difficult time,” said Jeff Cavarra, the program director for DynCorp International.
