Los Angeles: A helicopter crash in Los Angeles has killed three people after a news helicopter went down in the Chatsworth area of the San Fernando Valley on Tuesday evening, September 15. The aircraft crashed near the location of an earlier deadly collision involving a Metro bus and an SUV. The incident has become a major breaking news story in the United States, with authorities investigating what caused the helicopter to crash while news crews were covering the earlier road accident.
Three people killed in Los Angeles helicopter crash
The Los Angeles Fire Department confirmed that three people died following the helicopter crash. Emergency crews also took another person to a hospital, although authorities had not immediately released details about that person's condition. Officials said they were still working to determine how many of the victims were aboard the helicopter. At least one of those killed was reportedly on the ground near the crash site rather than inside the aircraft. The helicopter came down in the Chatsworth area, roughly a short distance from the site of the earlier bus collision. The aircraft crashed in a parking area between commercial buildings and subsequently caught fire. The flames spread to several vehicles and storage containers nearby. Firefighters responded rapidly and managed to extinguish the blaze while crews searched the crash site. According to the Los Angeles Fire Department, four vehicles and two storage containers were damaged by the resulting fire. More than 50 firefighters were involved in the emergency response.
A news helicopter was covering another crash
The helicopter was reportedly being used by NBC Los Angeles for aerial coverage of the earlier traffic accident. NBC4 had been following the developing story after a Metro bus and SUV collided in Chatsworth. The earlier accident happened shortly after 5 p.m. near Nordhoff Street and De Soto Avenue. Two people were killed, and six others were taken to hospitals, according to local authorities. Firefighters had to work to free people who became trapped in the bus following the collision. The helicopter crash occurred later in the evening, adding another emergency to an area that was already dealing with a major rescue operation. The proximity of the two incidents led to a large emergency response across the area.
NBC4 loses contact with helicopter crew
NBC Los Angeles was providing coverage of the bus crash when the station lost contact with its helicopter crew, according to reports. The aircraft has been identified in reports as NewsChopper4, a helicopter used for NBC Los Angeles coverage and operated by Angel City Air. The station's helicopter was among the aircraft providing aerial images of the developing accident scene. The incident was particularly shocking because the aircraft was reportedly in the area for news coverage when it went down.NBC4 anchor Colleen Williams reportedly informed viewers that the station had lost contact with its helicopter. The station later confirmed the devastating outcome as emergency agencies continued working at the crash site.
Fire breaks out after helicopter hits ground
Witnesses and emergency responders reported a major fire following the helicopter's impact. The aircraft crashed into an area containing parked vehicles and storage containers. Flames could be seen after the impact, prompting firefighters to immediately establish an emergency response around the wreckage. Firefighters worked to prevent the flames from spreading while simultaneously searching for possible victims. Authorities eventually brought the fire under control, but the helicopter was described as severely damaged. Investigators were left to examine the wreckage to determine what happened in the moments before the crash.
Earlier Metro bus crash killed two
The helicopter tragedy followed an earlier fatal road accident in Chatsworth. An SUV collided with a Metro bus near the intersection of Nordhoff Street and De Soto Avenue. The collision left the SUV heavily embedded in the side of the bus and trapped passengers inside. Firefighters and rescue personnel were dispatched to free those trapped in the wreckage. Two people were pronounced dead at the scene, while several others were transported to hospitals for treatment. The cause of that road crash was also under investigation. The two separate accidents created a complicated emergency situation for first responders, with crews having to manage both scenes within a relatively short period.
NTSB and FAA to investigate helicopter crash
The cause of the Los Angeles helicopter crash has not yet been determined. Federal investigators from the National Transportation Safety Board and the Federal Aviation Administration are expected to examine the aircraft, flight information and circumstances surrounding the crash. Investigators will likely look at the helicopter's flight path, communications, weather conditions, mechanical systems and other factors that could help establish why the aircraft went down. At this stage, authorities have not publicly identified a definitive cause. The investigation could take time, particularly because officials must first document the crash site and examine the aircraft's remains.
A tragic night for Los Angeles
The two crashes have left the Chatsworth community dealing with multiple fatalities in a matter of hours. The first accident involved a Metro bus and an SUV, while the second involved a helicopter that was reportedly covering the developing news story. Emergency responders who had already been working at the bus crash were faced with another major incident nearby when the helicopter came down. California Governor Gavin Newsom expressed condolences following the helicopter crash and acknowledged the work of emergency personnel responding to the tragedy. Authorities are continuing to investigate both incidents, and additional details about the helicopter's occupants and the circumstances leading to the crash are expected as investigators examine the evidence. For now, the Los Angeles helicopter crash remains an active investigation, with three confirmed fatalities and another person hospitalized. Officials are working to establish exactly what happened before the news helicopter went down in Chatsworth.
