A news helicopter crashed in Chatsworth, Los Angeles, killing three people.
Why it matters: The crash happened during coverage of a separate fatal bus collision, complicating an already fast-moving emergency scene. It also raises immediate questions about helicopter safety in dense urban disaster response zones.
- NBC4 and Telemundo 52 said a helicopter providing aerial news coverage crashed in Los Angeles.
- The Los Angeles Fire Department said the helicopter was over a Metro bus collision near Nordhoff Street and De Soto Avenue when it went down.
- AP and Reuters identified the aircraft as an NBC Los Angeles news helicopter.
- The earlier bus crash left at least two people dead and six others injured, according to the Los Angeles Fire Department.
A news helicopter crashed in the Chatsworth area of Los Angeles while covering a separate fatal bus collision, killing three people, according to AP and Reuters. The crash added to an already active emergency response scene and drew immediate scrutiny to the risks of aerial news coverage over major incidents.
The Los Angeles Fire Department said the helicopter was over the scene of a Metro bus collision near Nordhoff Street and De Soto Avenue when it went down. The department said the bus crash had already left at least two people dead and six others injured, and its incident updates outlined the broader response in the area. Los Angeles Fire Department alerts
NBC4 and Telemundo 52 said they were reporting that a helicopter providing aerial news coverage was involved in a fatal accident in Los Angeles. AP and Reuters identified the aircraft as an NBC Los Angeles news helicopter, and AP reported that three people were killed and one person was injured. NBC Los Angeles said the helicopter had been providing aerial coverage for NBC4 and Telemundo 52.
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass said she was devastated by the loss of life and thanked emergency responders. Officials had not identified a cause for the helicopter crash in the reporting provided.
By the numbers
- 3 - People killed in the helicopter crash, according to AP.
- 2 - People killed in the earlier Metro bus collision, according to the Los Angeles Fire Department.
- 6 - People injured in the bus collision, according to the Los Angeles Fire Department.
Yes, but: Officials had not identified a cause for the helicopter crash in the reporting provided.
What's next: Investigators have not yet identified what caused the helicopter to go down, and the emergency response around the bus crash remains the main known active scene detail.