Helicopter crash in Chatsworth kills three

A news helicopter crashed and burst into flames in a parking lot in the Chatsworth neighborhood of Los Angeles' San Fernando Valley on Tuesday evening, killing at least three people, according to the Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD). The crash occurred around 7 p.m. near a one-story commercial building in the 9100 block of North Mason Avenue, as news crews were covering an earlier fatal collision between an SUV and a Metro bus.

LAFD Captain Branden Silverman said during a news conference that at least one person killed in the helicopter crash was outside in the parking lot. He described the helicopter as "pretty well destroyed" and said crews were sorting through the wreckage to determine how many people had been on board. "We're trying to determine how many patients were inside the helicopter," Silverman said.

According to the LAFD, one person was transported to a local hospital in unknown condition. The fire from the crash damaged four vehicles and two storage containers, and more than 50 firefighters responded to the scene. The blaze was extinguished by Tuesday evening.

The National Transportation Safety Board and the Federal Aviation Administration said they will investigate the cause of the helicopter crash. Los Angeles police are also investigating.

News helicopter covering earlier bus crash

The helicopter is believed to have been a news aircraft covering the earlier bus crash in the same area. NBC4 Los Angeles confirmed during a live broadcast that its chopper went down just before 7 p.m. Veteran anchor Colleen Williams told viewers, "We knew it was a news chopper. We knew we'd lost contact with our people out there, and we've just received confirmation." Some reports initially said the aircraft belonged to a television station, but the exact station was not immediately confirmed.

The Los Angeles Police Department confirmed that the helicopter that crashed was from a television station. Footage from inside the helicopter, captured before the crash, appeared to show the aircraft losing control, according to The Times of India, which cited local media reports. The helicopter came down between two commercial buildings, landing on or near several vehicles and shipping containers.

Earlier SUV-bus collision kills two

About two hours before the helicopter crash, an SUV slammed into a Metro bus in Chatsworth, killing two people and injuring six others. The bus crash occurred just after 5 p.m. in the 20900 block of Nordhoff Street, near De Soto Avenue, according to the LAFD. Aerial footage showed an SUV that appeared to have nearly driven through the bus, with firefighters working to extricate trapped victims.

The Los Angeles Fire Department said "numerous" people were injured in the collision, and firefighters were working to free people trapped inside the bus. One passenger from the bus was killed, and another person who was rescued from one of the vehicles also died, according to Lokmat Times. The exact circumstances leading up to the bus crash remain under investigation.

Investigation ongoing

Authorities have not yet determined the cause of the helicopter crash. An aviation expert told NBC4 that the helicopter was in "uncontrolled airspace" before the crash, meaning there was no requirement to be in contact with air traffic control, but pilots could have communicated helicopter-to-helicopter. The expert's comments were reported by The Mercury News.

The area around the crash sites remained closed as investigations continued. The LAFD and police were working to identify the victims and determine the full number of casualties.