Three Killed in News Helicopter Crash in Chatsworth
Wertynews.com – A news helicopter crashed Tuesday night in Chatsworth, killing three people and sparking a fire near the location of a separate fatal Metro bus crash in the San Fernando Valley.
The aircraft went down in a commercial area near the 9100 block of North Mason Avenue. Los Angeles Fire Department crews found wreckage positioned on or near two shipping containers, with several parked vehicles also affected by the crash and ensuing flames.
Emergency crews moved quickly to contain a large fire that erupted after impact. Flames spread through nearby vehicles, creating a dangerous scene as firefighters worked around the damaged helicopter and debris field.
Victims Found at Crash Site
Fire officials initially confirmed one person had been found outside the helicopter and was pronounced dead at the scene. Captain Branden Silverman said responders were still determining how many people had been aboard the aircraft at the time of the crash.
“We do have one confirmed patient that seemed to be outside of the helicopter when it crashed. That person was declared deceased on scene. … At this point, we have not confirmed how many victims, or how many people, were inside the helicopter.”
Officials later confirmed that two additional people died at the crash location, bringing the total number of fatalities to three. A fourth person was transported to a local hospital, though their condition was not immediately released.
After the fire was put out, firefighters and Los Angeles police officers set up a canopy over one of the bodies. The scene remained an active investigation as crews assessed the wreckage and worked to establish the number of people connected to the helicopter.
Aircraft Identification Still Underway
Authorities had not immediately identified the news organization that operated the helicopter. The extensive damage made that process more difficult, Silverman said, because investigators needed to examine the debris before confirming details about the aircraft and its occupants.
“The helicopter itself, it’s pretty well destroyed, so we are going to have to go through the rubble and see how many victims there were on board as well as identify the helicopter.”
The crash occurred near the site of a deadly Metro bus collision, placing an additional emergency incident in an area already drawing public attention Tuesday night. The helicopter had been flying over the San Fernando Valley as firefighters responded to the post-crash blaze.
News helicopters are commonly used to provide aerial views of breaking events, traffic disruptions, fires and major emergency responses across Los Angeles. In this case, investigators must determine the helicopter’s identity, its flight activity before the crash, the number of people aboard and the circumstances that led to the aircraft going down.
Federal and Local Investigation Begins
The Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board were contacted to assist with the investigation. Los Angeles police are also examining the crash.
Investigations involving aircraft accidents can include a review of wreckage, flight information, weather conditions, maintenance records, communications and witness accounts. Officials had not released a cause of the crash Tuesday night, and no conclusion should be drawn before investigators complete their work.
The immediate priorities at the scene included extinguishing the fire, securing the area around the damaged helicopter, accounting for victims and preventing further hazards involving the surrounding vehicles and commercial property. The impact location between commercial buildings underscored the potential danger created when an aircraft crashes in a densely developed urban area.
Authorities had not announced the identities of those killed or the hospitalized victim. Further information is expected as investigators inspect the destroyed aircraft and notify families.
The incident remains under investigation.
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