Three people died in a fiery crash when a news helicopter covering a deadly bus accident went down in a Los Angeles neighborhood on Tuesday.
Local media rushed to the scene after an SUV slammed into a bus in Chatsworth, northwest of downtown. That earlier crash killed three people and left many others injured. In a city where TV stations regularly send aircraft over major incidents, several crews were already in the air.
Reporters on the ground near the bus wreck said they heard a sudden loud bang. Some looked up and saw a helicopter drop from the sky roughly one block away. Thick smoke quickly rose into the air. Aerial video later showed a large fire involving shipping containers and cars, with the twisted remains of a helicopter visible in the flames. The mangled tail and rotors stood out amid the wreckage.
Police confirmed early that the aircraft was a media chopper. The local NBC4 station reported it could not reach its crew. During emotional live coverage, veteran anchor Colleen Williams confirmed the worst. “We knew it was a news chopper. We knew we’d lost contact with our people out there, and we’ve just received confirmation,” she said on air.
Dozens of firefighters raced to the site. The Los Angeles Fire Department later stated that four patients were assessed. Three were declared dead at the scene. One person was taken to a hospital in unknown condition. Officials noted that one of the victims appeared to be a pedestrian who was on the ground when the helicopter came down.
Los Angeles remains a highly competitive media market. Television stations push hard for every major story and frequently use helicopters to cover fires, chases, and serious accidents. News choppers usually carry two people: a pilot and a reporter or camera operator who often broadcasts live from the sky.
The crash has left the local news community shaken. Investigators are still examining the cause while families and colleagues wait for more details about those lost in the news helicopter crash.
