Three individuals have lost their lives, and another is receiving treatment after a helicopter crash that occurred on Tuesday night in Los Angeles, as reported by authorities.
The Los Angeles Fire Department dispatched over 70 firefighters just before 7 p.m. to the incident site, which took place between two commercial buildings located at 9151 N. Mason Ave in Chatsworth.
It’s been confirmed by NBC Los Angeles that the helicopter was their NewsChopper4, which was covering a tragic earlier crash involving a bus and an SUV in the same neighborhood when it went down.
Four people were evaluated at the site of the helicopter crash, with three casualties reported and a fourth individual taken to a local hospital in an unspecified condition, according to statements from the fire department. Notably, one of the deceased was a pedestrian situated in a parking lot, while the other two were identified as occupants of the helicopter, as stated by LAFD Captain Branden Silverman.
The crash resulted in a fire that damaged four vehicles and two storage containers, though firefighters managed to contain the flames before they spread to other nearby structures.
The National Transportation Safety Board and the Federal Aviation Administration announced that they would investigate the circumstances surrounding the helicopter crash, sending an investigator on Wednesday to look into the incident.
According to local reports, several TV news helicopters were present in the vicinity, covering the aforementioned bus crash, which had already resulted in at least two fatalities and left several others injured.
Colleen Williams, an anchor for NBC4, confirmed during a broadcast that NewsChopper4 had crashed. She expressed a need for reflection on the tragic event. “We are going to take a couple of minutes to think about that, process it,” Williams stated before the coverage shifted away.
NBC4 and Telemundo 52 later released a joint statement that expressed profound sadness over the helicopter crash, extending condolences to the families and colleagues of those who perished.
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass expressed her sorrow, stating, “I’m absolutely devastated by the loss of life in Chatsworth tonight. My heart is with the families and loved ones of those we lost in the tragic bus collision and helicopter crash.”
California Governor Gavin Newsom also weighed in, sharing his sympathies for the victims’ families. “Our hearts are with the victims and families of tonight’s devastating Metro bus and helicopter crashes in Chatsworth, and with the entire NBC4 family,” he remarked, thanking the first responders for their hard work during this trying time.
