Helicopter crashes and kills at least 3 people near a bus crash in Los Angeles

Three individuals lost their lives when a helicopter plummeted to the ground in the Chatsworth neighborhood of Los Angeles, according to fire authorities. The aircraft struck between two commercial buildings, as reported by a Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD) spokesperson to the BBC. One casualty was rushed to a nearby hospital, but their fate remains uncertain.

Footage captured the aftermath, revealing burning shipping containers and multiple vehicles. The blaze has since been brought under control by the fire department. It remains unclear who had control of the aircraft, but local reports hint it may have been a news helicopter near a fatal bus crash scene. LAFD Captain Branden Silverman informed a local CBS affiliate that a person outside the helicopter at the time of impact was confirmed deceased.

The number of individuals aboard the helicopter at the time of the crash was not disclosed by Silverman. The Los Angeles Police Department confirmed the helicopter was not one of their own. The incident unfolded just before 7:00 PM on Tuesday in the vicinity of Lurline Avenue and Nordhoff Street. Multiple news helicopters were present in the area during the time of the accident, covering a separate bus crash.

Earlier that day, two individuals perished and six others were injured following an SUV collision with a city bus in Chatsworth, as reported by BBC's US partner CBS. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) will spearhead the investigation into this unfortunate event.