Helicopter Crash in Chatsworth Leaves at Least Three Dead
Sandego.net – At least three people were killed Tuesday night when a helicopter came down between commercial buildings in Chatsworth, a Los Angeles suburb about 25 miles northwest of downtown.
Los Angeles Fire Department crews pronounced three people dead at the crash site. A fourth person was taken to a nearby hospital, though officials had not released information on that person’s condition late Tuesday.
Firefighters Contain Post-Crash Fire
The aircraft struck the ground near parked vehicles and two large cargo containers, sparking a fire that sent heavy black smoke into the air. Video recorded in the area showed dark plumes rising from the commercial site shortly after the impact.
Firefighters later extinguished the blaze. The department said 56 firefighters responded to the emergency, which damaged four vehicles and two storage containers.
The crash occurred while emergency personnel were also dealing with a fatal bus collision elsewhere in the Chatsworth area, adding to an already active night for first responders in the northwest San Fernando Valley community.
News Helicopter Identified
The helicopter was operated for a television news station. Federal Aviation Administration records identify the aircraft as a Eurocopter AS350 B2, a single-engine utility helicopter manufactured in 2004.
The AS350 family is widely used in a range of aviation roles, including electronic newsgathering, law enforcement support, medical operations and general utility flights. Investigators had not said how many people were aboard the helicopter when it crashed.
Federal Investigation Underway
The cause of the crash remains unknown. The National Transportation Safety Board and the Federal Aviation Administration will lead the investigation into what happened before the aircraft went down.
Such investigations typically examine the condition of the aircraft, the pilot’s actions, weather and visibility, air traffic information, maintenance records, witness accounts and any available flight data. Officials had not released preliminary findings Tuesday night.
The crash scene was situated among commercial properties, where aircraft debris, fire damage and the presence of nearby vehicles can complicate recovery and safety work. Emergency crews worked to put out the fire and assess the affected area before federal investigators begin their formal examination.
What Is Known So Far
Officials have confirmed that the helicopter crashed in Chatsworth on Tuesday night, killing at least three people at the scene and sending one additional person to a hospital. The fire caused by the crash has been put out, but the number of occupants, the identity of those involved and the circumstances leading to the impact have not yet been made public.
Authorities are expected to provide more information as the investigation develops and as next-of-kin notifications are completed.
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