UPDATE: On Thursday, June 4, the three killed PG&E contractors were identified by a workers' union.
The International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers' Local 1245 Union admitted that two from the accident were part of their organization.
They were identified as Local 676 Journeyman Jimmy Wasdin, 41, and Local 1245 Fourth Step Apprentice Lineman Travis Shull, 29. The pilot, Roscoe Gray, was not a union member but had close ties to the union and Pacific Gas and Electric Co.
"We are absolutely devastated by the news we received late yesterday regarding this on-the-job accident. Our hearts go out to the families of these two IBEW brothers whose lives were cut short by this terrible tragedy," said IBEW 1245 Business Manager Tom Dalzell. "Line work comes with many very serious risks, and the founders of the IBEW understood that above all, our union must stand up for the safety of all electrical and utility workers. As we collectively mourn for Brother Wasdin and Brother Shull, we must simultaneously renew our commitment to safety on the job, today and every day."
On Tuesday afternoon, June 2, a contractor helicopter carried PG&E employees crashes in the Northeastern part of San Francisco. Three passengers and pilots were said to be dead after the chopper got a clip with a power line and burst into flame after a crash. Aside from their deaths, a part of the land-- where the plane crashed-- resulted in a massive grass fire.
Three died after helicopter gets clip on power line and bursts into flame
Bell 206 chopper flying three contractors from the private-owned company Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) crashed this Tuesday afternoon, at 1:00 p.m., outside of Fairfield area.
As reported via Daily Mail UK, the three contractors were reportedly fixing a power line around the area, when the chopper suddenly got caught by a power line and bursts into flame.
Upon crashing, the area-- where the chopper crashed-- also resulted in a seven-acre grass fire.
KCRA Sacramento reported that firefighters and emergency responses team already headed to the scene. However, due to its large-scale fire and the water tanker's overturning en route to the crash scene, three of the firefighters were reportedly injured.
As of now, the fire was already put out by the firefighters. Authorities did not yet release details about the killed PG&E contractors.
The Federal Aviation Authority and the National Transportation Safety Board said that they are already investigating the incident on why the plane gets caught by the power line.
36,000 residents affected by power outages
Reports also indicate that 38,000 households around the Fairfield area are now experiencing power outages due to the incident. It was not yet said on when this will be scheduled to be fixed.
