A helicopter crashed in a parking lot in the Chatsworth neighborhood of Los Angeles on Tuesday, resulting in at least three fatalities, according to officials. The incident occurred near the scene of a separate, deadly bus crash earlier in the day.
Los Angeles Fire Department Captain Branden Silverman stated that investigators are currently determining how many of the deceased were passengers inside the aircraft versus individuals on the ground. At least one victim was found outside in the parking lot, Silverman noted during a press conference.
The helicopter struck parked vehicles and storage containers within the lot of a large, one-story commercial building, the nature of which was not immediately identified. More than 50 firefighters responded to the scene, where the aircraft was described as “pretty well destroyed.” Crews battled a fire that damaged four vehicles and two storage containers, with flames fully extinguished by Tuesday evening. Rescue teams must sift through the wreckage to identify all victims aboard.
Another individual was transported to a hospital, though their condition remains unknown. The National Transportation Safety Board and the Federal Aviation Administration have been assigned to lead the investigation.
In a separate incident earlier that same day, two people were killed and six others were injured when an SUV collided with a city bus in Los Angeles. Visuals circulating online depicted the front half of the SUV embedded in the side of a MTA bus, with emergency crews working around the debris field.
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