Three people were killed after a news helicopter crashed in Los Angeles on Tuesday evening while covering a nearby fatal traffic accident, authorities said.
The helicopter went down in the Chatsworth area of the San Fernando Valley shortly before 7pm local time. The aircraft crashed between two commercial buildings and caught fire, prompting a major emergency response.
The helicopter was operated for NBC Los Angeles and was being used to cover an earlier collision involving an SUV and a city bus. NBC said it lost contact with the crew shortly before the crash.
Los Angeles firefighters confirmed that three people were pronounced dead at the scene. At least one of those killed was believed to have been on the ground rather than aboard the helicopter. Another person was taken to a hospital, although their condition was not immediately known.
More than 50 firefighters responded to the crash. The resulting fire damaged several vehicles and nearby storage containers before being brought under control.
The helicopter crash occurred only a short distance from the earlier traffic accident, which had already resulted in two deaths and six injuries. News crews had gathered in the area to report on that incident when the helicopter went down.
The crash disrupted NBC Los Angeles’ live coverage as the station tried to determine the status of its crew. An anchor confirmed on air that the station had lost contact with those aboard the aircraft.
The cause of the helicopter crash has not yet been determined. The National Transportation Safety Board and the Federal Aviation Administration are investigating the incident.
Authorities have not yet released a full account of the victims or confirmed how many people were aboard the helicopter when it crashed. The investigation is expected to examine the circumstances surrounding the flight and the events leading up to the crash.
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