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A news helicopter covering a deadly bus crash in Chatsworth, Los Angeles, crashed and burst into flames, killing at least three people, including two station employees.
A news helicopter crash ed in a Los Angeles neighborhood on Tuesday and burst into flames, killing at least three people, while reporters were covering the nearby crash of an SUV and a city bus, officials said.
The helicopter, identified as NewsChopper4, went down just before 7pm local time (noon on Wednesday AEST) near a large storage facility in Chatsworth in the San Fernando Valley, as news crews were covering the bus crash that left at least two people dead and six others injured, according to the Los Angeles Fire Department. Colleen Williams, an NBC4 Los Angeles anchor, confirmed during live broadcasts that the station's helicopter went down and two people onboard were killed.
She and the station's website later identified them as Eliana Moreno, a familiar voice for NBC4 and Telemundo 52 during the station's aerial coverage, and pilot George Marciniw. Both were Angel City Air employees. We are going to take a couple of minutes to think about that, process it, Williams said, her voice shaking with emotion. Moments later, their coverage abruptly cut off.
At least one person killed in the helicopter crash was outside in the car park next to the commercial building, said Captain Branden Silverman, a spokesman for the Los Angeles Fire Department. Two people were transported to a hospital, said Rico Gross, a fire department battalion chief. Their conditions were not immediately released. From the helicopter itself, it is pretty well destroyed, Silverman said.
So we are going to have to go through the rubble and see how many victims there were on board, as well as identify the helicopter; we could not even see a tail. The wreckage was heavily damaged, with its main rotor blades and body largely pulverized, making it difficult to determine the exact number of passengers quickly.
The initial impact sent debris ricocheting through the narrow street, igniting a violent fireball that engulfed the rotorcraft and flanked vehicles parked in the adjacent parking area. At least four cars and two storage containers on the ground burned after the helicopter caught fire, which was quickly put out, according to officials. More than 70 firefighters responded to the helicopter crash. Dozens of police cars surrounded the scene at the storage facility as ambulances entered.
Emergency response teams continue to search the debris pattern, looking for survivors and bodies, while medical teams handle any patients that may have emerged from the wreckage. About two hours before the crash, an SUV crashed into the middle of a city bus, killing at least two people and injuring six others. Photos and videos online showed half the SUV lodged into the side of an MTA bus.
The bus crash occurred about 2.4 kilometres from where the helicopter went down. NBC has confirmed the helicopter was NewsChopper4, which is operated by Angel City Air and was used by NBCLA and Telemundo 52. The outlet said several TV news helicopters were reporting on the bus crash before the helicopter went down.
NBC4 and Telemundo 52 Los Angeles said in a statement they were deeply saddened to learn of the helicopter crash and extended heartfelt condolences to the families, friends and colleagues of those who lost their lives. Fire officials, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass and other politicians spoke during an evening news conference but gave no details on who perished in the crash.
After the briefing, the mayor and other officials embraced a crying NBC reporter, who was also hugged by fellow journalists. Losing five Angelenos is very painful, Bass said. And I know this community of Chatsworth is hit hard, and will be grieving for some time. Mayor Bass extended condolences to the families and loved ones of those lost in both the bus collision and the helicopter crash, emphasizing the city's commitment to ensuring safety and supporting victims.
California Governor Gavin Newsom thanked the emergency crews responding to both crashes and said in a post on X that our hearts are with the victims and families. The National Transportation Safety Board and the Federal Aviation Administration said they will investigate and will be sending one of its staff to the scene on Wednesday. The incident has raised questions about the safety protocols for aerial reporting in congested urban environments, especially when multiple incidents occur in close proximity.
Officials are reviewing flight guidelines for news helicopters and exploring enhanced safety measures. The city authorities are coordinating with state and federal agencies to provide updates and assistance as investigations proceed. There have been at least eight fatal crashes involving news helicopters in the US since 2000, killing 16 people, according to a review of federal accident records and news accounts.
They include a 2023 crash in a New Jersey forest that killed the pilot and a photographer aboard a helicopter used by Philadelphia station WPVI, and a 2022 crash beside an interstate freeway in Charlotte, North Carolina, that killed a pilot and meteorologist during a training flight for WBTV. In the wake of the double tragedy, the community mourns the loss of several members, and emergency services remain on high alert as the investigation continues.
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smh:News helicopter crashes near scene of fatal LA bus accidentThis story was compiled and edited by the HeadTopics newsroom and HT AI from the reports above.
Helicopter Crash Los Angeles Emergency Response National Transportation Safety Board Federal Aviation Administration Los Angeles Helicopter Crash Chatsworth News Helicopter Fatal Bus Crash NBCLA Newschopper4 NTSB Investigation Newschopper4 Chatsworth Bus Crash NBC4 Los Angeles News Helicopter Chatsworth Crash Bus Crash NBC4
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