Helicopter Crashes Near Bus Crash Scene in Los Angeles, Killing 3
The NBC news helicopter went down while covering a separate collision that had already resulted in multiple fatalities and injuries.
A local NBC news helicopter crashed and burst into flames in a Los Angeles neighborhood Tuesday, killing at least three people. The incident occurred near a separate crash involving an SUV and a city bus, which had already claimed lives.
Colleen Williams, an NBC4 Los Angeles anchor, confirmed during a live broadcast that the station's helicopter, identified as NewsChopper4 operated by Angel City Air, went down shortly before 7 p.m. in the Chatsworth neighborhood of the San Fernando Valley. At the time of the crash, multiple news helicopters were covering the bus collision approximately 1.5 miles away.
Officials stated that at least one person killed in the helicopter crash was on the ground in the parking lot adjacent to a commercial building. The status of the other two fatalities, whether they were aboard the aircraft or on the ground, remained unclear. One person was transported to a hospital, but their condition was not immediately known.
The helicopter crash resulted in a fire that engulfed at least four cars and two storage containers on the ground. Over 50 firefighters responded to the scene, and the fire was extinguished. The helicopter was described as "pretty well destroyed," and crews were working to determine the number of victims aboard the aircraft.
Earlier on Tuesday, an SUV collided with a city bus, killing at least two people and injuring six others. Images from that scene showed the front of the SUV partially embedded in the side of the MTA bus.
Governor Gavin Newsom expressed condolences to the victims and their families and thanked emergency responders. The National Transportation Safety Board and the Federal Aviation Administration are investigating the cause of the helicopter crash, with an NTSB investigator expected to arrive Wednesday.