News Helicopter Crashes Near Deadly Bus Crash

A television news helicopter crashed around 6:57 p.m. Tuesday in Chatsworth, in Los Angeles’ San Fernando Valley, while crews were covering an earlier collision between an SUV and a Metro bus that killed at least two people and injured several others. The aircraft went down between commercial buildings near Mason Avenue, burst into flames, and damaged four nearby vehicles and storage containers. Later reports citing the Los Angeles Fire Department said three people were killed and one was taken to a hospital, replacing earlier reports that at least one pedestrian had died and that the condition of those aboard was unknown. The helicopter was preliminarily identified as belonging to NBC Los Angeles, though officials had not initially confirmed the operator. The FAA and NTSB are expected to investigate, and the cause remains unknown.