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US Firefighting Agency Pays Tribute To Three Firefighters Who Died In Waterbombing Aircraft Crash

US Firefighting Agency Pays Tribute To Three Firefighters Who Died In Waterbombing Aircraft Crash

The three Americans were killed when their plane crashed while trying to extinguish bushfires.

Stewart Perrie

Stewart Perrie

Three firefighters have died after the waterbombing aircraft they were in crashed in New South Wales, Australia.

The C-130 air tanker hit the ground yesterday afternoon near Peak View in the Snowy Mountains while trying to extinguish multiple bushfires.

The US National Interagency Fire Center, which has been coordinating the initiative to send firefighters to Australia to help with the bushfire crisis, has released a statement, saying they are deeply saddened by the deaths.

Coulson Aviation C-130 aircraft.
Phillip Brown/Flickr

"Our thoughts are also with Coulson Aviation, other American firefighters, and our emergency service colleagues in New South Wales and throughout Australia who have been affected by this incident," the statement said.

"Every time a wildland firefighting tragedy occurs, the international wildland firefighting community is affected and deeply saddened.

"The aircraft was a Lockheed C-130Q Hercules, which was contracted to the NSW Rural Fire Service, through the National Aerial Firefighting Centre (NAFC) from Coulson Aviation, also a valued and longstanding wildland firefighting responder in the U.S. We continue to offer assistance to Australia and those affected by this heartbreaking incident."


More than 170 firefighters have been sent from America to help their Aussie counterparts in their time of need. They've been vital to keeping fresh firefighters on the frontline, giving Australian volunteers some much needed time off.

They've also been aided by firefighters from Canada, New Zealand, Singapore, Papua New Guinea and Japan.

The National Interagency Fire Center posted another message on Facebook, paying tribute to the three firefighters.

Coulson Aviation

"It's with heavy hearts that we offer our sincere condolences to the families and friends of the three American crew members lost in a large air tanker crash while fighting fires in the Snowy Monaro area of New South Wales, Australia," the social media post said.

This sentiment was backed up by New South Wales Rural Fire Service Commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons, who told Channel 9 that they were 'extraordinary professionals'.

"We are all feeling the absolute tragedy of the loss of these remarkable and highly professional individuals yesterday," he told Today.

The Australian Transport Safety Bureau, along with support from NSW Police, will investigate the cause of the waterbombing aircraft crash and prepare a report.

Featured Image Credit: Coulson Aviation

Topics: News, Bushfires, Australia