Two Dead In Latest Crash

France's fire season has claimed the lives of two more pilots, as that country continues to suffer a rash of losses among its aerial firefighting forces similar to those in the United States over the past several years.

Saturday's crash, the third in less than one month, involved a U.S.-made Grumman Tracker aircraft that experienced an engine failure as it made a drop run over a 15-hectare (37.5 acre) fire in Valgorge, in France's Ardeche region. According to witnesses, the airplane lost power just before it dropped its water cargo.

"According to initial information, the aircraft crashed and exploded," said Patrick Duprat, head of the Ardeche prefecture's office.

"Two Canadair (firefighting aircraft) came to help to put out the flames."

A 43-year-old trainee and his 45-year-old instructor were killed in the crash. At this time, it is not known which of the two men was at the controls of the aircraft.

This summer, in particular, has been dangerous for France's firefighting pilots. Two pilots were killed on August 1, when their Canadair CL415 crashed in Haute Corse, on the French Mediterranean island of Corsica. On July 19, another Tracker crashed in southern France, its pilot fortunately escaping injury. The causes of both accidents aren't yet known.

"This new appalling accident reminds us again of the heavy toll which firefighters, pilots and co-pilots of the civil safety planes pay each year in the fight against forest fires," said French Interior Minister Nicolas Sarokzy following Saturday's crash. French President Jacques Chirac also sent his condolences to the pilots' families.  

FMI: www.northropgrumman.com; www.canadair.com