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An amphibious-float-equipped firefighting aircraft crashed Wednesday afternoon, resulting in the death of the pilot. According to reports from the Lewis and Clark County Sheriff's Office, the Air Tractor AT-802 FireBoss struck a mountainside and crashed into Hauser Lake while combating a fire at Horse Gulch, northeast of Helena, Montana.
County Sheriff Leo Dutton informed local news outlets that the pilot was identified as 45-year-old Juliana Turchetti, a Brazilian native operating with a working visa. She was employed by Idaho-based Dauntless Air, a company with more than 25 years of experience in aerial firefighting. Dauntless Air holds state and federal contracts, including with the Idaho Department of Lands. Its services were on loan to the U.S. Forest Service to fight the Horse Gulch fire.
Dauntless Air released a statement this afternoon: “We regret to share that a Dauntless Air aerial firefighting aircraft working to control the Horse Gulch fire in Helena, Montana, yesterday afternoon was involved in an accident that resulted in the loss of the pilot’s life. We are deeply saddened and our hearts and condolences are with Juliana’s family and friends. No one in the surrounding area was injured.”
