News Helicopter Crash in Los Angeles Suburb Kills Three

A news helicopter crashed in a commercial area of Chatsworth, northwest of Los Angeles, on Tuesday evening, killing at least three people and injuring at least two others, authorities said.

The helicopter was being used by NBC4 and Telemundo 52 for aerial news coverage when it crashed shortly before 7 p.m. The stations had been covering a deadly bus collision in the area and earlier reported losing contact with their helicopter crew.

NBC4 anchor Colleen Williams later confirmed on air that the aircraft involved was part of the station’s helicopter team. The two stations said in a joint statement that they were deeply saddened by the fatal accident and expressed condolences to the victims’ families, friends and colleagues.

Three people were pronounced dead at the scene, while at least two others were taken to hospital, officials said. Authorities had not immediately released the identities of those killed or confirmed how many people were aboard the helicopter.

Los Angeles Fire Department Captain Branden Silverman said one of the victims was a pedestrian who was in a parking lot when the helicopter crashed. The aircraft was heavily destroyed, requiring emergency crews to search through the wreckage.

The crash sparked a fire that spread to several vehicles and two large storage containers. More than 70 firefighters responded, and the fire was later extinguished. Four vehicles and the two containers were damaged, according to the fire department.

The National Transportation Safety Board will lead the investigation, with an investigator expected at the scene on Wednesday. The Federal Aviation Administration is also involved in the investigation.

FAA records identified the aircraft as a 2004 Eurocopter AS350 B2, a single engine utility helicopter. The cause of the crash remains unknown.

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass and California Governor Gavin Newsom expressed condolences to the victims and their families, while local officials urged the public to avoid speculation as investigators work to determine what happened.