Jumbo jet tanker to return to fire service
From Times Staff and Wire Reports
The nation’s largest firefighting aircraft will return to duty next week after repairs to a wing that was damaged after a near-crash.
The DC-10 air tanker had been out of commission since June 25 as it prepared to drop fire retardant along a Kern County ridge.
A severe downdraft forced the aircraft to sink and its left wing clipped several treetops.
“We’re thankful that no one got hurt and the damage was as minimal as it was,” said Rick Hatton, managing partner of the company that owns the DC-10 jumbo jet.
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