Helicopter Crash in Los Angeles Kills Three Covering Bus Accident
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Helicopter Crash in Los Angeles Kills Three Covering Bus Accident

By Editorial TeamSep 16, 2026 · 2:19 PM3 min read
AI-generated representative image: Emergency crews respond at night to a helicopter crash site in Chatsworth, Los Angeles.
Editorial Team
Editorial Team
News chopper went down in Chatsworth while filming the aftermath of a fatal Metro bus collision in the San Fernando Valley.

A news helicopter crashed in Chatsworth, a suburb of Los Angeles, on Tuesday night while filming the aftermath of a deadly bus accident, killing three people, the local Fire Department said.

The helicopter was one of several news aircraft flying over the San Fernando Valley to cover the scene of a collision between an SUV and a Metro bus that had killed two people and injured six.

The crash compounds an already tragic evening in Los Angeles, where authorities were responding to a fatal road accident when the helicopter covering that very incident went down. The loss of life now extends across two separate but connected events in the same area.

NBC Los Angeles (KNBC) confirmed that it had lost NewsChopper4, identifying the aircraft as belonging to its news operation. The incident raises immediate questions about the circumstances that led the helicopter to descend while its live feed was still broadcasting.

Key Developments

According to CBS News, the helicopter appeared to have landed on top of two shipping containers and several vehicles parked in the area. An LAFD spokesman at the scene said one of the victims died in a parking lot, and added that it was unclear how many people had been on board.

Aerial footage from the scene shows the wrecked helicopter engulfed in flames alongside a damaged shipping container and at least two cars. A video posted on social media reportedly shows the helicopter's live feed as it provided a bird's-eye view of the road accident before suddenly beginning to descend.

Background of the Incident

The helicopter was covering the aftermath of a collision between an SUV and a Metro bus that killed two people and injured six. Several news helicopters were in the air over the San Fernando Valley at the time, documenting the road accident for their respective broadcasts.

The chain of events began with the ground collision, which drew multiple news crews to the area. It was during this coverage that the helicopter experienced a sudden descent, captured on its own live feed, leading to the fiery crash in Chatsworth.

Official Statements and Reactions

"I'm absolutely devastated by the loss of life in Chatsworth tonight," Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass said, offering her condolences to the victims' families.

The Los Angeles Fire Department confirmed the three fatalities, while the LAFD spokesman noted that the number of people aboard the helicopter remained unclear at the time of his remarks. Officials have not yet released the identities of those killed or provided a confirmed cause for the crash.

Current Status and Next Steps

As of the latest reports, authorities have confirmed three deaths from the helicopter crash, with one victim found in a parking lot at the scene. The exact number of people aboard the aircraft has not yet been officially confirmed.

Investigators are expected to examine the circumstances of the descent, including the helicopter's live feed footage, to determine what caused the crash. Additional information from the Los Angeles Fire Department and other agencies is awaited.

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