Tragic Helicopter Crash in Los Angeles Claims Lives While Covering Bus Accident

A local NBC news helicopter tragically crashed in Chatsworth, Los Angeles, while covering a bus accident, resulting in at least three fatalities. The incident occurred just before 7 PM, leading to an emotional response from the news team and local officials. As investigations begin, the community mourns the loss of lives. This incident highlights the dangers faced by news crews while reporting on emergencies. Read on for more details about the crash and the ongoing investigation.

By Narendra Chaudhary Sep 16, 2026, 14:09 IST

Helicopter Crash in Chatsworth

In a tragic incident on Tuesday evening, a local NBC news helicopter crashed in the Chatsworth area of Los Angeles, resulting in the deaths of at least three individuals. The helicopter went down while reporters were covering a separate accident involving an SUV and a city bus.

Colleen Williams, an anchor for NBC4 Los Angeles, confirmed during a live broadcast that the helicopter crashed shortly before 7 PM, leading to the loss of two lives on board.

With a trembling voice, she expressed the gravity of the situation, stating, "We are going to take a couple of minutes to think about that, process it," before the broadcast was abruptly halted.

During a news conference later that night, fire officials, along with Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass and other local leaders, refrained from disclosing the identities of the victims. Following the conference, the mayor and officials comforted a visibly shaken NBC reporter.

Mayor Bass remarked, "Losing five Angelenos is very painful. I know this community of Chatsworth has been deeply affected and will be mourning for a while."

The helicopter crashed near a large storage facility in Chatsworth, coinciding with the coverage of a bus accident that had already claimed two lives and injured six others, as reported by the Los Angeles Fire Department.

According to Capt. Branden Silverman of the fire department, one of the fatalities from the helicopter crash was located outside in a parking lot adjacent to the commercial building.

Two individuals were transported to a hospital, although their conditions have not been disclosed.

"The helicopter is pretty much destroyed," Silverman stated. "We will need to sift through the wreckage to determine how many victims were on board and to identify the helicopter; we couldn't even see a tail."

The crash ignited a fire that engulfed at least four vehicles and two storage containers, which was quickly extinguished. Over 70 firefighters responded to the scene, while numerous police vehicles surrounded the area as ambulances arrived.

Earlier that day, an SUV collided with a city bus, resulting in two fatalities and six injuries. Online images and videos depicted the SUV lodged into the side of the bus.

NBC confirmed that the helicopter involved was NewsChopper4, operated by Angel City Air, and was utilized by both NBC Los Angeles and Telemundo 52. Several news helicopters were on-site covering the bus accident when the chopper went down approximately 2.4 kilometers away.

In a statement, NBC4 and Telemundo 52 expressed their deep sorrow over the helicopter crash and extended heartfelt condolences to the families and colleagues of the deceased.

Governor Gavin Newsom acknowledged the emergency responders at both crash sites, stating on X, "Our hearts are with the victims and their families."

The National Transportation Safety Board and the Federal Aviation Administration announced they would investigate the helicopter crash, dispatching an investigator on Wednesday.

Since 2000, there have been at least eight fatal incidents involving news helicopters in the U.S., resulting in 16 fatalities, according to federal accident records and news reports. This includes a 2023 crash in New Jersey that killed the pilot and a photographer, and a 2022 incident in North Carolina that claimed the lives of a pilot and meteorologist during a training flight.