Federal investigators have determined that human error caused the 2023 mid-air collision between two firefighting helicopters that killed three people in Riverside County.

The accident happened on Aug. 6, 2023, while crews were battling a 20-acre brush fire near Cabazon. The two aircraft, a Sikorsky S-64 Skycrane helitanker and a smaller Bell 407, collided at an altitude of approximately 2,500 feet, causing the Bell 407 to break apart and crash.

All three people on board were killed: Cal Fire Assistant Chief Josh Bischof, 46; Cal Fire Captain Tim Rodriguez, 44; and contract Pilot Tony Sousa, 55.

The helitanker sustained damage but was able to land safely.

In its final report released on Thursday, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) stated that the Skycrane crew entered a re

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