Video: Journalists feared dead after helicopter covering bus accident in Los Angeles crashes

On Tuesday evening, a local NBC News helicopter crashed and erupted into flames in Los Angeles, resulting in at least three fatalities, according to officials. The journalists aboard the aircraft are currently presumed dead, though official confirmation has not yet been issued. NBC4 Los Angeles anchor Colleen Williams confirmed live that the station's helicopter went down just before 7pm.

The broadcast was abruptly interrupted moments later. NBC anchors identified the aircraft as NewsChopper 4 and stated that contact with the crew was lost before the helicopter plummeted approximately 1.6km from the collision site. The number of individuals on board the network's helicopter remains unknown.

Earlier in the evening, an SUV and a city bus collided, causing at least two deaths and six injuries, as reported by the Los Angeles Fire Department. The NBC journalists were covering this incident when the helicopter crash occurred. The National Transportation Safety Board and the Federal Aviation Administration have pledged to investigate the crash.

NBC anchor Colleen Williams reported that the helicopter crashed near a storage building in Chatsworth while the crew was covering the initial accident. One person was found injured on the ground near a parking lot adjacent to a commercial building, according to Los Angeles Fire Department Captain Branden Silverman. It is unclear whether the other two victims were on the ground or inside the helicopter. One individual was hospitalized, however, their condition is unknown.

Capt. Silverman stated that the helicopter was "pretty much destroyed," and authorities were combing through the debris to ascertain how many victims were aboard. At least four cars and two storage containers also ignited in the aftermath of the crash. Firefighters from over 50 units responded to the scene. California Governor Gavin Newsom extended his gratitude to emergency crews responding to both crashes and expressed sorrow for the victims and their families.