Firefighters Who Died In Australia Were On California Tanker
SACRAMENTO, Calif (AP) — Gov. Gavin Newsom says the three American flight crew members who died when their aerial water tanker crashed while battling wildfires in southeastern Australia were part of a crew on a California-based tanker.
The victims were identified as Captian Ian H. McBeth, 44, of Montana, First Officer Paul Clyde Hudson, 42, of Arizona, and Flight Engineer Rick A. DeMorgan Jr., of Florida.
The premier of Australia's New South Wales confirmed the crash deaths in the Snowy Monaro region as Australia attempts to deal with an unprecedented fire season that has left a large swath of destruction.
Canada-based Coulson Aviation says one of its Lockheed large air tankers was lost after it left Richmond in New South Wales with retardant for a firebombing mission.