This story is free to read.

Crews recover body of pilot killed fighting blaze

In this photo provided by Donald Talend, smoke rises from a plane crash Tuesday, Oct. 7, 2014, near Chinquapin, Calif. The S-2T air tanker fighting a wildfire near Yosemite National Park in Northern California crashed, but there was no immediate word on the condition of the pilot, who was the only person aboard, officials said. (AP Photo/Donald Talend) In this photo provided by Donald Talend, smoke rises from a plane crash Tuesday, Oct. 7, 2014, near Chinquapin, Calif. The S-2T air tanker fighting a wildfire near Yosemite National Park in Northern California crashed, but there was no immediate word on the condition of the pilot, who was the only person aboard, officials said. (AP Photo/Donald Talend)

By Associated Press October 8, 2014 1 min read

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) – The body of an air tanker pilot killed while fighting a fire in Yosemite National Park has been removed from the crash site and turned over to state fire officials.

KFSN-TV reports (http://abc30.tv/1seexIy) that a procession accompanied the pilot’s flag-draped body down a highway on Wednesday, a day after the crash. An honor guard was on hand as it was turned over to California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection officials.

The pilot, a contractor who worked for Calfire for more than 13 years, was identified as 62-year-old Geoffrey “Craig” Hunt, of San Jose. He died on Tuesday when his air tanker crashed into a steep canyon wall.

The cause of the crash is under investigation, but officials say the weather at the time was clear and the winds were calm.