UT State Order · Half-Staff
Flags at Half-Staff for Christopher Andersen and Miles Elliott
August 11, 2026
Utah Governor Spencer Cox ordered flags at half-staff in honor of two helicopter pilots, Christopher V. Andersen and Miles Elliott, who lost their lives on August 7, 2026, while battling the Widemouth 2 Fire in central Utah. The pilots were operating a Sikorsky S-64 Skycrane under contract with the U.S. Forest Service when their aircraft crashed during critical firefighting operations. Governor Cox recognized their extraordinary sacrifice and commitment to protecting lives and property during wildfire suppression efforts.
Flag protocol
Flags of the United States and the state of Utah shall be flown at half-staff on all state facilities in recognition of the pilots' service and sacrifice.
Source: news.google.com