News chopper crashes in LA

A news helicopter went down in a Los Angeles neighborhood while covering a deadly bus accident. Three people aboard were killed in the fiery crash.

Covering a fatal bus crash

Media had scrambled to cover an SUV that ploughed into a bus in Chatsworth, killing three and injuring many. The helicopter crashed about a block away.

Reporters heard a loud bang

Reporters at the bus crash scene heard a loud bang and saw the helicopter come down. Plumes of smoke rose into the air.

Massive fire engulfs wreckage

Aerial footage showed a large fire involving shipping containers and cars. The helicopter's mangled tail and rotors were visible in the flames.

NBC4 confirms it was theirs

Veteran anchor Colleen Williams confirmed during emotional live coverage that NBC4 had lost contact with its crew and the crashed chopper was theirs.

“We knew it was a news chopper. We knew we'd lost contact with our people out there, and we've just received confirmation.”

Pedestrian killed on the ground

Four patients were assessed at the scene. Three died, including one pedestrian on the ground. One person was hospitalized in unknown condition.

Competitive LA media market

Los Angeles TV stations compete aggressively for stories. They routinely send helicopters to cover everything from fires to car chases.