Archive · 16 Sep 2026
Three Killed in NBC4 Helicopter Crash Near Chatsworth Accident
A helicopter crashed and caught fire in the Chatsworth area of Los Angeles on Tuesday evening.
Three people died and one person was taken to a hospital.
Fire officials said one person who died was on the ground, while two others were aboard the helicopter.
The helicopter fell between two commercial buildings near Lurline Avenue and Nordhoff Street.
It damaged four vehicles and two storage containers.
Firefighters put out the fire after arriving at the scene.
NBC4 Los Angeles later said the helicopter was its Chopper 4, which had been covering a nearby bus crash.
Officials initially said they were unsure whether the aircraft was a news helicopter.
Investigators from two federal agencies will work to determine what caused the crash.
Three people died and one person was hospitalized after a helicopter crashed and caught fire in Chatsworth, Los Angeles, on Tuesday evening.
The helicopter went down around 7 p.m. between two commercial buildings near Lurline Avenue and Nordhoff Street.
Los Angeles Fire Department officials said one victim was on the ground and two were aboard the helicopter.
NBC4 Los Angeles later confirmed that its Chopper 4 was involved while covering a separate deadly Metro bus crash nearby.
Fifty-six firefighters extinguished the blaze, which damaged four vehicles and two storage containers; the NTSB and FAA will investigate.
- Who
- Three people died, one person was hospitalized, and NBC4 Los Angeles’s Chopper 4 was involved; emergency responders and federal investigators responded.
- What
- A helicopter crashed, caught fire, and damaged vehicles and storage containers.
- When
- Tuesday evening, at or shortly before 7 p.m. local time.
- Where
- Between two commercial buildings near Lurline Avenue and Nordhoff Street in Chatsworth, Los Angeles.
- Why
- The cause of the crash was not stated; the National Transportation Safety Board and Federal Aviation Administration will investigate.
Confirmed and Reported Details
Initial Official Uncertainty
Helicopter identity
Confirmed and Reported Details
NBC4 Los Angeles later confirmed that its Chopper 4 was involved in the crash while covering the nearby bus accident.
Initial Official Uncertainty
Early reports and an LAFD spokesperson said it was not initially clear whether the aircraft was a news helicopter, what type it was, or where it had come from.
Connection to bus crash
Confirmed and Reported Details
The helicopter was reportedly covering the separate deadly Metro bus crash, and the two incidents occurred near each other.
Initial Official Uncertainty
LAFD said it was unclear whether the helicopter crash was connected to the bus collision beyond their proximity and timing.
People aboard the helicopter
Confirmed and Reported Details
LAFD reported that two of the deceased victims were aboard the helicopter and one victim was on the ground.
Initial Official Uncertainty
Officials initially said it was not immediately clear how many people were aboard or whether anyone else killed was on the ground.
- Deaths
- Three people were killed.
- Hospitalized
- One person was taken to a local hospital in unknown condition.
- Aircraft
- NBC4 Los Angeles later confirmed that its Chopper 4 was involved.
- Victim locations
- LAFD said one victim was on the ground and two were aboard the helicopter.
- Crash location
- The helicopter came down between two commercial buildings in Chatsworth.
- Emergency response
- Fifty-six firefighters responded and extinguished the blaze.
- Damage
- Four vehicles and two storage containers were damaged.
- Investigation
- The National Transportation Safety Board and Federal Aviation Administration will investigate.
