Crashed tanker pilot identified; community mourns
By Logan Bagett on Sunday, July 28th, 2024 in Eastern/Southeast Oregon News Featured Stories More Top Stories
GRANT COUNTY- UPDATE – 7/28 at 8:40 a. m. – (From Malheur National Forest)
The wildland firefighting community is mourning the loss of one of their own. The Grant County Sheriff has confirmed that single engine air tanker pilot James Bailey Maxwell, 74, died while working in the vicinity of the Falls Fire on July 25, 2024. James was an experienced pilot who had spent 54 years of his life flying and who had logged approximately 24,000 hours of flight time. He is survived by and will be missed by family members in Idaho, Oregon, and Washington.
A single engine airtanker, or SEAT, is the smallest airtanker in the fire suppression fleet. These highly-maneuverable aircraft can deliver up to 800 gallons of fire retardant or water to wildland firefighters on the ground.
The Maxwell family and firefighters are grateful for the support being expressed throughout the community and online. Services have not been announced at this time and the family asks for privacy while they mourn.
~~Photo provided by the Malheur National Forest~~
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UPDATE – 7/26 at 12:45PM: We have confirmed that the pilot has tragically died. We are awaiting more information. Highway 395C was temporarily closed at the intersection of Hwy. 26 for a procession as the body was being transferred to Driskill Memorial Chapel in John Day. He has not been identified.
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UPDATE: According to the Grant County Emergency Communications Agency, Sheriff Todd McKinley reports the pilot of the crashed plane is being transported on Highway 395C to John Day. The condition of the pilot was not listed, and we’ll provide updates as they come in.
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PREVIOUS: A BLM-contracted single engine air tanker (SEAT) was reported missing while assisting on a lightning start in the vicinity of the Falls Fire on the evening of July 25, 2024. Search efforts began immediately and will resume today. The fire is located near Seneca, Oregon on the Malheur National Forest. No additional information is available at this time.
