In short
- Three people died and two others were taken to hospital after an NBC Los Angeles news helicopter crashed in the Chatsworth area of the city on Tuesday.
- The two people on board were named by the station as Eliana Moreno and George Marciniw; a third person who died was on the ground at the time of the crash.
- The helicopter, NewsChopper4, also operated for Telemundo 52 and was in the area reporting on a deadly bus crash.
- More than 70 firefighters were deployed after fire from the crash spread to four vehicles and two storage containers, the Los Angeles Fire Department said.
- The National Transportation Safety Board will lead the investigation into the incident.
Three people died and two were taken to hospital after an NBC Los Angeles news helicopter went down in the Chatsworth area of the city just before 19:00 local time on Tuesday, while covering a fatal bus crash, the Los Angeles Fire Department said.
What happened to the NBC4 helicopter?
NBC Los Angeles confirmed the aircraft was its NewsChopper4, which also operated for Telemundo 52. During live coverage on NBC4, news anchor Colleen Williams said: “We knew it was a news chopper. We knew we’d lost contact with our people out there, and we’ve just received confirmation.”
Who were the victims?
The station’s hosts said both people on board had died, naming them as Eliana Moreno and George Marciniw and describing them as “valued friends and colleagues”. The third person who died was on the ground at the time of the crash, the hosts said. That person was not named.
Los Angeles Fire Department Captain Branden Silverman told the local affiliate of the BBC’s US partner CBS: “We do have one confirmed patient that seemed to be outside of the helicopter when it crashed. That person was declared deceased on scene.”
Where did the helicopter crash and what damage did it cause?
The aircraft went down just before 19:00 local time (01:00 BST) between two commercial buildings in the Chatsworth neighbourhood, a Los Angeles Fire Department spokesperson told the BBC. Fire from the crash spread to four vehicles and two storage containers, and more than 70 firefighters were deployed to the scene, the department said.
What was the helicopter covering?
Several news helicopters were in the area at the time of the incident reporting on a bus crash. Earlier in the day, two people were killed and six others were injured when an SUV crashed into a city bus in Chatsworth, CBS reported.
What have officials said?
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass wrote on X that she was “absolutely devastated by the loss of life in Chatsworth tonight”, adding: “My heart is with the families and loved ones of those we lost in the tragic bus collision and helicopter crash.” California Governor Gavin Newsom wrote on X that “our hearts are with the victims and families of tonight’s devastating Metro bus and helicopter crashes in Chatsworth, and with the entire NBC4 family”. The Los Angeles Police Department’s Central Division said on X that it extended “thoughts and prayers to the family, friends and colleagues of KNBC 4, Los Angeles”.
Who is investigating the crash?
The National Transportation Safety Board will lead the investigation into the incident.
Separately, an Indonesian ferry capsized with six people dead and 130 missing.
Frequently asked questions
How many people died in the Los Angeles news helicopter crash?
Three people died and two others were taken to hospital. The two people on board were named by the station as Eliana Moreno and George Marciniw, and a third person who died was on the ground at the time of the crash.
Which helicopter crashed in Chatsworth?
It was NewsChopper4, an NBC Los Angeles aircraft that also operated for Telemundo 52. It went down between two commercial buildings in the Chatsworth neighbourhood just before 19:00 local time.
What was the bus crash the helicopter was covering?
Earlier on Tuesday, two people were killed and six others were injured when an SUV crashed into a city bus in Chatsworth, according to CBS.
Who is investigating the helicopter crash?
The National Transportation Safety Board will lead the investigation into the incident.
With reporting from BBC News.
Stock image, not from the events described. Globe World — Jo%E3o%20Silas / Wikimedia Commons (CC0 1.0)