Three people were killed and another was injured Tuesday after a news helicopter crashed near a bus accident in the Chatsworth area of Los Angeles, northwest of downtown.
The crash occurred as local media outlets were covering a fatal bus accident. Witnesses at the scene reported hearing a loud explosion and seeing a helicopter crash about a block away, sending columns of smoke into the air.
Aerial images showed a large fire involving shipping containers and vehicles, along with the wreckage of a helicopter. Its tail and damaged rotors were visible among the flames.
Police initially confirmed that the helicopter was a news aircraft. NBC4, the local NBC affiliate, reported that it had been unable to contact its crew.
During a live broadcast, veteran NBC4 anchor Colleen Williams confirmed that the helicopter belonged to the station.
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“We knew it was a news helicopter. We knew we’d lost contact with our people there and we just received confirmation,” Williams said.
The Los Angeles Fire Department said dozens of firefighters responded to the scene. Four patients were evaluated, three of whom died at the crash site, while another was transported to a local hospital in unknown condition.
One of those killed appeared to be a pedestrian who was on the street when the crash occurred.
