A news helicopter crashed in the San Fernando Valley on a Tuesday night, resulting in at least one confirmed death. The Los Angeles Fire Department reported that the aircraft went down in Chatsworth between two commercial buildings near the 9100 block of N. Mason Avenue. The site of the crash was near the location of a separate, earlier fatal Metro bus accident.
Emergency responders found that the helicopter appeared to have landed on top of several parked vehicles and two shipping containers. A fire broke out following the impact, which Los Angeles firefighters worked to extinguish. Once the flames were suppressed, police and fire crews established a canopy over one body at the scene.
Los Angeles Fire Department Captain Branden Silverman stated that one person, who appeared to have been outside the helicopter at the time of the crash, was declared dead at the scene. Silverman noted that the aircraft was "pretty well destroyed," complicating initial efforts to identify the helicopter's owner or determine the total number of occupants. As of the report, officials had not confirmed how many people were on board the flight.
Federal aviation authorities and local police have been called to investigate. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) will examine the wreckage to determine the cause of the incident. The Los Angeles Police Department is also conducting an investigation. A final determination on the cause of the crash and the identification of all victims will follow the completion of these inquiries.