Chatsworth, Los Angeles | NBC4’s NewsChopper4 crashed near a commercial building, killing at least three people and injuring one.
NBC News Helicopter Crashes in Los Angeles, Three Dead
An NBC television news helicopter crashed and burst into flames in the Chatsworth neighborhood of Los Angeles on Tuesday evening, killing at least three people as its crew covered another deadly accident nearby.
The helicopter went down shortly before 7 p.m. near a commercial storage building in the San Fernando Valley. NBC4 Los Angeles identified the aircraft as NewsChopper4, which was operated by Angel City Air for the television station.
Colleen Williams, an NBC4 anchor, confirmed the crash during a live broadcast. Visibly shaken, she told viewers that the station needed time to process what had happened before its coverage was briefly interrupted.
Helicopter crash leaves three people dead
Los Angeles Fire Department officials said three people were pronounced dead following the crash. At least one victim was found in a parking area outside the commercial building. Authorities initially said it was unclear whether the other victims were aboard the aircraft or on the ground.
One additional person was transported to a hospital, but officials did not immediately release details about the patient’s condition. Emergency personnel were searching the heavily damaged wreckage to determine how many people had been inside the helicopter.
The crash ignited a fire that damaged at least four vehicles and two storage containers. More than 50 firefighters responded and quickly brought the flames under control, preventing the fire from spreading to nearby buildings.
NewsChopper4 was covering fatal bus collision
The helicopter had been covering a separate traffic accident approximately 1.6 kilometres away. About two hours earlier, an SUV crashed into the side of a Los Angeles Metro bus near Nordhoff Street and De Soto Avenue.
Images from the scene showed part of the SUV lodged in the side of the bus. Authorities initially reported that at least two people died and six others were injured in that collision. Firefighters had to free victims who became trapped following the impact.
Several television news helicopters were reportedly flying over the bus collision when NewsChopper4 went down. Investigators have not determined whether the aircraft experienced a mechanical problem, struck an object or encountered another difficulty before crashing.
NTSB and FAA launch crash investigation
The National Transportation Safety Board and Federal Aviation Administration will investigate the helicopter accident. The NTSB said an investigator would travel to Los Angeles to begin examining the wreckage, flight records, maintenance history, weather conditions and other available evidence.
Officials warned that identifying the cause could take time because the aircraft was extensively damaged by the impact and subsequent fire. The agencies had not announced a preliminary cause as of Wednesday morning.
California Governor Gavin Newsom thanked the emergency teams that responded to both accidents and expressed sympathy for the victims and their families. Los Angeles officials also urged the public to avoid the two crash locations while investigators and recovery crews continued working.
Chatsworth community faces two deadly crashes
The two accidents unfolded within hours of each other in the same Los Angeles neighborhood, placing significant pressure on emergency responders. Police, firefighters and medical personnel were initially handling the mass-casualty bus collision when the helicopter crashed nearby.
The identities of most victims were not immediately released pending formal identification and notification of their families. NBC4 also had not disclosed how many crew members were aboard NewsChopper4 when it went down. The helicopter accident remains under active investigation, and authorities are expected to release additional information after examining the wreckage and confirming the number and locations of the victims.
