Los Angeles, Calif. – A news‑gathering helicopter crashed Tuesday night in the Chatsworth area, a suburb about 25 miles north of downtown Los Angeles. The aircraft struck the space between two commercial buildings, igniting a fire that was later put out by a crew of 56 firefighters.
Casualties and emergency response
Los Angeles Fire Department officials confirmed that three people were pronounced dead at the scene. A fourth person was air‑lifted to a local hospital, with their condition still unknown. The fire department reported that the blaze threatened nearby vehicles and two large cargo containers, but all flames were extinguished shortly after the crash.
Aircraft details
The helicopter was identified as a Eurocopter AS350 B2, a single‑engine utility model built in 2004. It was owned and operated by a local television news station, according to the station’s affiliate KCAL/KCBS. Federal Aviation Administration records list the aircraft’s make and model, but the cause of the crash remains under investigation.
Investigation underway
The National Transportation Safety Board and the FAA have taken charge of the investigation. Both agencies will examine wreckage, flight data, and any available video footage to determine why the helicopter went down. CNN has reached out to both agencies for comment.
Context of the incident
The crash occurred near the site of a separate, deadly bus collision that emergency crews were already responding to earlier in the evening. While the two incidents are unrelated, the proximity of the events added to the strain on local first‑responders.
Community impact
Chatsworth residents reported hearing a loud explosion and seeing thick plumes of black smoke rise from the crash site. Several nearby businesses suffered damage to vehicles and storage containers, but no additional injuries were reported beyond those directly involved with the helicopter.
Authorities are urging anyone with additional information or eyewitness video to contact the Los Angeles Fire Department or the NTSB. Updates will be provided as the investigation progresses.
Original reporting: El Paso News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
