3 Killed Responding to California Brush Fire in Mid-Air Helicopter Collision

This aerial image taken from video provided by ABC7 Los Angeles shows the scene of a firefighting helicopter crash, with emergency vehicles at the base of a mountain and the area blocked off with police tape, in Cabazon, Calif., on Aug. 6, 2023. ABC7 Los Angeles via AP

Two firefighting helicopters collided mid-air late on Aug. 6 while working to extinguish a brush fire in Riverside County, California, killing all three personnel onboard one of the aircraft, according to authorities.

At a news conference early on Aug. 7, Cal Fire Southern Region Chief David Fulcher said one of the helicopters managed to land safely following the mid-air collision.