RismadarVoice Reporters
September 16, 2026
At least three people have been confirmed dead and another injured after a television news helicopter crashed in Los Angeles, United States, while providing aerial coverage of a fatal road accident.
The incident occurred in the Chatsworth area of Los Angeles, where the helicopter had been deployed to cover a deadly collision involving a metro bus and another vehicle.
Emergency authorities said three people died following the helicopter crash, including one person who was on the ground when the aircraft came down.
A fourth person sustained injuries and was taken to hospital for medical attention. Authorities had yet to provide further details on the condition of the injured person as of the time of filing this report.
The helicopter reportedly went down between two commercial buildings before crashing into a car park and striking several parked vehicles.
Officials said the impact damaged at least four vehicles and two storage containers in the area.
A fire subsequently broke out at the crash scene, prompting a major response from emergency personnel. More than 50 firefighters were deployed to the location to contain the situation and prevent the fire from spreading to surrounding structures.
The fire was eventually extinguished, with officials confirming that it did not spread to nearby commercial buildings.
The helicopter had been transmitting live footage from the scene of the road accident before it crashed. An alert-like sound was reportedly heard shortly before the aircraft began descending, after which the live transmission was interrupted.
Authorities have not established whether the sound heard during the transmission was connected to the cause of the crash.
The identities of those killed had also not been made public as of the time of filing this report, pending further information from the relevant authorities.
The circumstances surrounding the crash remain under investigation, with aviation authorities expected to examine the aircraft, available flight information and other relevant evidence to determine what led to the incident.
The National Transportation Safety Board and the Federal Aviation Administration are expected to be involved in the investigation.
The helicopter crash occurred while emergency personnel were already responding to the separate road accident involving the metro bus and another vehicle, adding another major emergency operation to the area.
Authorities are expected to release additional information on the victims and the circumstances surrounding the crash as investigations progress.
