A helicopter crashed in the Chatsworth area of suburban Los Angeles on Tuesday evening, killing at least one person and leaving three others injured, according to authorities.
The helicopter went down between two commercial buildings at around 7 p.m. local time, and a major fire broke out after the crash.
Chatsworth is about 25 miles from downtown Los Angeles.
Main Incident — Helicopter Crash
The crash happened shortly before 7 p.m., according to the BBC, while KCRA reported that the incident occurred at around 7 p.m. local time.
At least one person has been confirmed dead following the crash. The helicopter came down between two commercial buildings, where the aircraft caught fire after the accident.
Death and Injuries
The Los Angeles Fire Department said one person died at the scene.
LAFD Captain Branden Silverman said a confirmed patient was found outside the helicopter and was pronounced dead at the scene. CNN reported that Silverman said the deceased person was on the ground.
The BBC reported that three other people were injured.
Authorities have not yet confirmed how many people were inside the helicopter at the time of the crash.
Silverman said the helicopter was largely destroyed and that officials would need to remove and examine the wreckage to determine how many people were aboard the aircraft.
Fire and Crash Scene
A major fire broke out after the helicopter crashed.
Footage from the scene showed two shipping containers and several vehicles on fire, according to the BBC.
The fire department later said the fire had been extinguished.
CNN reported that thick clouds of black smoke could be seen rising from the crash site after the accident.
The helicopter crashed between two buildings and caught fire, according to KCRA.
Who Owned the Helicopter?
Local media reports identified the aircraft as a news station helicopter.
CNN reported that its affiliate KCAL/KCBS said the aircraft involved was a news station helicopter.
KCRA reported that NBC Los Angeles said contact with the helicopter’s crew had been lost.
The LAFD has not yet confirmed which news station the helicopter belonged to.
The BBC also reported that details about the helicopter’s operation were not immediately clear, although local media reports described it as a news helicopter.
The Los Angeles Police Department confirmed that the crashed helicopter was not its aircraft.
Why Was the Helicopter There?
The helicopter was reportedly in the area to cover a fatal bus crash.
The incident it was covering was a separate, earlier fatal collision in the Chatsworth area.
CNN reported that emergency officials were responding to a deadly bus collision in the area at the same time.
KCRA also reported that the helicopter had been flying over the scene of the fatal bus crash.
Exact Location of the Crash
The exact street location has been described differently in the supplied reports.
The BBC reported that the crash occurred in the area of Lurline Avenue and Nordhoff Street.
CNN identified the location as Chatsworth, a Los Angeles suburb, and placed it about 25 miles from downtown Los Angeles.
KCRA reported that the helicopter crashed between two buildings in the 9000 block of Mason Avenue.
Because the BBC and KCRA reports give different descriptions of the exact street location, the precise address should not be treated as confirmed without independent verification.
Official Statement — LAFD
LAFD Captain Branden Silverman said one person was found outside the helicopter and was pronounced dead at the scene.
Silverman said authorities still could not confirm how many people had been inside the helicopter.
CNN reported that he described the helicopter as “pretty well destroyed” and said officials would need to examine the wreckage.
The wreckage examination is expected to help authorities determine whether there were additional victims and establish the identity of the aircraft.
Investigation
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) will lead the investigation into the crash.
The cause of the incident remains unknown.
The BBC reported that the NTSB would lead the investigation into what caused the crash.
CNN said it had contacted the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the NTSB about the incident.
Authorities have not yet confirmed the complete number of people who were aboard the helicopter or the aircraft’s final identification.
Context of the Related Bus Crash
The helicopter was in the area because it was covering a separate fatal bus collision.
The supplied CNN/AI-mode material says that collision involved an SUV and a Los Angeles Metro bus. However, that specific detail is not fully confirmed in the directly supplied BBC, CNN and KCRA article text.
For that reason, the SUV and Metro bus detail should not be treated as a prominent confirmed fact in the helicopter crash story without additional confirmation.
KCRA also reported that the helicopter was flying over the scene of the fatal bus crash.
Current Status of the Incident
The helicopter crash remains a developing story.
Authorities are still working to establish the identity of the helicopter, determine how many people were aboard and understand the circumstances that led to the crash.
The BBC reported that the story was being continuously updated, with more details expected as the investigation continues.
KCRA also described the incident as a developing story.
