FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN/KMJ) — The wife of Ryan Cutter, one of two pilots killed in a helicopter crash while battling the Dome Fire in Yosemite National Park, says she hopes people remember him for his compassion, dedication and love of life.
Cutter and Greg King were on fire suppression operations when their helicopter crashed Sunday in Mariposa. The two pilots died in the crash.
In an interview with Action News, Cutter’s wife, Nina Pacchia, said she is focusing on the person her husband was rather than the tragedy of his death.
“I think about who was in that helicopter. My focus has been thinking about the Ryan that was the passionate and giving human, rather than focusing on the news that I received on Sunday,” Pacchia said.
Pacchia described her husband as loving and adventurous who brought a sense of calm.
The 46-year-old pilot began his career in the air medical field before becoming an aerial firefighter in 2017. Pacchia says her husband had more than 6,000 hours of flight time and was passionate about helping and protecting the communities where he worked, especially those affected by wildfires.
“It would really hit him hard to see fires that would engulf populated areas,” Pacchia said.
The couple would have celebrated their 10th wedding anniversary in November. Pacchia said she is holding on to memories of both major milestones and everyday moments they shared together.
Pacchia said Cutter’s death still feels unreal as she continues to cope with the loss. She said she has been encouraged by the support she has received from the firefighting community and others.
“If there was any, you know, glimpse of goodness in any of this, first it was what he was doing and why he was doing it,” Pacchia said.
Pacchia adds she has found comfort in supporting Kelly, the wife of Greg King, and that the tragedy has brought the two women closer.
A celebration of life for Cutter is planned for next month in Utah.
A GoFundMe campaign launched for Cutter’s family has already raised tens of thousands of dollars. If you would like to donate, click here.
Dear Friends, Family, and Community,Our hearts are heavy with the passing of Ryan Cutter. He was a deeply loved husband, son, friend, and godfather. As we process this loss, our primary focus is supporting his wonderful wife, Nina, as she navigates these next steps. Grief is a heavy burden to carry alone. Right now, Nina is facing this painful chapter far away from the core support system she needs most. To help her heal, find stability, and feel secure, we desperately want to bring her family close to her side. Whether that means covering the immediate travel costs for her family to be with her right away, or in the near future to celebrate Ryan’s life, we have started this GoFundMe to ease the financial strain of this transition. Your generous donations will go directly toward travel costs to bring her family to her.
Another GoFundMe campaign for King’s family has also been set up; you can find that link here.
Greg King died while fighting a wildfire in California. His wife, Kelly, and stepdaughters, Whitney and Emery, are now facing the loss of a husband and stepfather who, according to the fundraiser organizer, cared deeply about the girls’ futures.
The fundraiser will help give Kelly and the girls time to grieve and travel to Greg’s home country of New Zealand to honor him. It will also help support Whitney and Emery’s future education.
