Pilot employed by Idaho company killed in plane crash while fighting Montana wildfire

Elizabeth Walsh, Idaho Statesman

HELENA, Montana (Idaho Statesman) — A 45-year-old female aviator who was employed by an Idaho-based institution died Wednesday successful a level clang while responding to a occurrence successful Montana, according to nan Lewis and Clark County Sheriff’s Office successful Montana.

The human-caused Horse Gulch Fire began Tuesday extracurricular of Helena, Montana, and has burned much than 1,000 acres successful nan Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest, according to nan National Interagency Fire Center. The Sheriff’s Office, successful a news release, identified nan aviator arsenic Juliana Turchetti, an worker of Dauntless Air. The aerial firefighting institution useful pinch wildland firefighters and was connected indebtedness from Idaho to nan U.S. Forest Service to thief incorporate nan fire, Idaho Gov. Brad Little and Montana Gov. Greg Gianforte said successful a associated news release.

Turchetti’s level collapsed into a mountainside and landed successful Hauser Lake, according to nan Sheriff’s Office. It’s unclear whether Turchetti, a autochthonal of Brazil, lived successful Idaho, Betsy Kirkeby, spokesperson for nan Lewis and Clark County Sheriff’s Office, told nan Idaho Statesman. Turchetti was nan only personification connected nan plane, and nary different deaths aliases injuries were reported, according to nan FAA.

“It’s a existent enactment of bravery to tally toward a fire,” Little and Gianforte said successful their associated news release. “We subordinate each Montanans and Idahoans successful praying for nan fallen hero’s family and friends during this tragic time.”

Lewis and Clark County Search and Rescue, moving pinch a dive squad from Gallatin County, recovered Turchetti’s assemblage from nan reservoir Wednesday night, nan Daily Montanan reported.

The National Transportation Safety Board will lead nan investigation into what caused nan crash, nan Federal Aviation Administration said.

The occurrence arsenic of Thursday day was 0% contained, U.S. Forest Service District Ranger Sarah Rouse told nan Statesman.