Greg King Acciden Yosemite CA Death Obituary: Alaska Wildland Fire Community Mourns Pilot Killed in Yosemite Crash
Greg King’s work placed him where skill, courage and service met: in the cockpit supporting firefighters battling dangerous wildfires. His death has left colleagues and the wider wildland-fire community mourning a pilot remembered for his dedication and close ties to Alaska’s firefighting community.
Greg King devoted his flying career to a demanding mission: helping protect lives and communities from wildland fires. His sudden death has left colleagues, friends and the broader firefighting community grieving the loss of an experienced aviator whose work took him into some of the most challenging environments.
King, a pilot for Precision Helicopters, was one of two pilots killed in a helicopter crash while supporting the Dome Fire in Yosemite National Park on September 20, 2026. Officials said the helicopter was conducting water-drop operations when it crashed near Ostrander Lake. The two pilots were the only people aboard.
The Alaska Division of Forestry & Fire Protection described King as a cherished member of its wildland-fire family. He had served on wildland fires in Alaska and worked extensively alongside the division before joining Precision. His close relatives also work with the agency, deepening the personal connection between King and the Alaska firefighting community.
Alaska aviation officials have remembered King for his piloting ability, judgment and personality. Andy Jones, the division’s chief of aviation, described him as highly regarded within the community and emphasized his kindness and skill.
Details about King’s early life, education, age and broader family history have not been publicly confirmed in the sources reviewed.
The Federal Aviation Administration and National Transportation Safety Board are investigating the crash, and its cause remains undetermined.
King’s legacy will live on through the people he served, the colleagues who knew him and the wildland-fire community that considered him one of its own.
