Helicopter crashes and bursts into flames, killing at least 3 people near an LA bus collision

On Tuesday evening, a news helicopter crashed in a Los Angeles neighborhood, bursting into flames and killing at least three people near a bus collision site. The incident occurred around 7 p.m. in Chatsworth, a suburb of Los Angeles in the San Fernando Valley.

The crash took place near a one-story commercial building, while news crews were covering another fatal accident nearby. An SUV had plowed into a city bus at approximately two hours earlier, resulting in at least two deaths and six injuries. Los Angeles Fire Department spokesperson Capt. Branden Silverman confirmed on live television that the helicopter went down just before 7 p.m.

At least one victim of the helicopter crash was found outside in the parking lot adjacent to the commercial building, while the fate of the other two casualties remains unclear - they could have been on the ground or inside the aircraft. One person was hospitalized, but their condition was not immediately known. Silverman described the helicopter as "pretty well destroyed" and stated that officials would investigate the wreckage to determine the total number of victims on board.

The fire engulfed at least four cars and two storage containers on the ground, which were promptly extinguished. Emergency services responded with over 50 firefighters to the scene. The National Transportation Safety Board and the Federal Aviation Administration have pledged to investigate the cause of the helicopter crash.