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News helicopter crash leaves 3 dead. |
The helicopter went down shortly before 7 p.m. local time near the 9100 block of North Mason Avenue in Chatsworth, a community in Los Angeles' San Fernando Valley. The aircraft crashed between commercial buildings and caught fire, according to the Los Angeles Fire Department.
NBC News Helicopter Crash Leaves Three Dead
NBC Los Angeles later confirmed that the helicopter was its NewsChopper 4. Two people aboard the aircraft were killed in the crash: aerial news reporter and photojournalist Eliana Moreno and pilot George Marciniw.
A third person, who was on the ground when the helicopter crashed, also died. Authorities said another person was taken to a hospital following the incident.
The helicopter was operated by Angel City Air and was providing aerial coverage for NBC Los Angeles and Telemundo 52.
Crash Happened Near Fatal Bus Collision
The helicopter was covering an earlier collision involving a Metro bus and an SUV in the Chatsworth area. Several news helicopters were in the area as television crews reported on the bus crash.
The helicopter later went down only a short distance from the earlier accident scene. The crash caused a large fire, and firefighters worked to extinguish flames that spread to nearby vehicles and storage containers.
The earlier bus collision also resulted in fatalities and injuries, making the two incidents a devastating series of events for the Chatsworth community.
Investigation Underway
The cause of the helicopter crash has not yet been determined.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) are investigating the incident. Investigators are expected to examine the helicopter, flight conditions, maintenance records and other evidence to determine what caused the aircraft to go down.
Officials have not announced a definitive cause of the crash.
Victims Remembered
NBC Los Angeles and Telemundo 52 expressed condolences to the families, friends and colleagues of those who died.
Eliana Moreno was an experienced aerial journalist who had worked in Southern California news coverage for years. Moreno and Marciniw had also worked together in the air on previous news assignments.
The crash has also affected the wider Los Angeles television news community, where aerial news crews regularly provide live coverage of major traffic incidents, fires and other breaking events.
Los Angeles Officials Respond
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass described the events in Chatsworth as a heartbreaking night for the city and offered condolences to the victims' families.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom also expressed sympathy for the victims and their families while thanking first responders who worked at the scene.
Emergency crews quickly responded to the helicopter crash and worked to control the fire and secure the area.
What Happens Next?
Investigators will continue examining the wreckage and gathering information about the helicopter's final moments before the crash.
Because the investigation is ongoing, officials have not yet released a final explanation for why the helicopter crashed.
The NTSB and FAA investigation is expected to provide additional information as investigators analyze the aircraft and other evidence.
Final Update
The deadly helicopter crash has become a major breaking-news story in Los Angeles after three people were killed while a news crew was covering another fatal crash nearby.
The victims' families, NBC Los Angeles and the Southern California news community are mourning the loss as federal investigators work to determine what caused the helicopter to crash.
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