News Chopper Plunges Near Bus Wreck

Police car light bar flashing red and blue at night — Photo: zef art / Shutterstock

Three people died when NBC4/Telemundo 52’s news helicopter crashed in Los Angeles while covering a fatal bus collision, turning one tragedy into two.

Story Highlights

NewsChopper4 crashed near a deadly bus wreck, killing two aboard and one on the ground.
NBC4 and Telemundo 52 confirmed the aircraft was providing aerial coverage at the time.
Los Angeles Fire Department reported additional injuries and hospitalizations.
Federal investigators often find multiple factors drive helicopter crashes, not a single cause.

What Happened at the Scene

Los Angeles emergency crews responded Tuesday evening after a television news helicopter crashed near Chatsworth, close to the site of a separate, deadly bus collision. Officials said three people were killed, including the reporter and pilot aboard the aircraft and one person on the ground. At least one more person was taken to a hospital. NBC Los Angeles reported the helicopter was covering the bus crash when it went down and caught fire, according to local authorities.

NBC4 and Telemundo 52 said the helicopter was providing real-time aerial coverage when the accident occurred. The stations expressed condolences to the families and colleagues of those who died. The aircraft has been identified in follow-up coverage as NewsChopper4, which provides shared aerial newsgathering for both stations. The crash happened shortly before 7 p.m. in the San Fernando Valley, drawing multiple fire engines and law enforcement units to secure the area and treat the wounded.

Who Was Aboard and What Authorities Confirmed

Coverage from regional and national outlets reported that the two people aboard the helicopter were a reporter and a pilot. One person on the ground also died. The Los Angeles Fire Department confirmed multiple victims and at least one transported survivor. City leaders called it a heartbreaking night, as first responders working a deadly bus crash then faced a second fatal scene nearby. The identities were reported in local broadcasts as the investigation and next-of-kin notifications advanced.

Initial reports described the helicopter descending rapidly before impact and igniting vehicles nearby. Crews worked to keep flames from spreading while assessing the injured. Investigators will examine flight path data, maintenance records, weather, and any radio communications to understand what went wrong. Early counts and details can shift as officials complete formal notifications and gather verified records, but the death toll and the link to the earlier bus crash coverage have been consistently reported.

Why This Crash Fits a Wider Safety Pattern

National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) work in recent years shows that helicopter accidents rarely stem from one cause. Investigations often find a mix of route design, pilot workload, weather, and organizational pressures. After a 2025 midair collision near Washington that killed 67, the NTSB faulted Federal Aviation Administration route design and weak risk reviews, underscoring how mixed airspace and “see and avoid” create hazards if not managed well.

Reporter and pilot among 3 killed in Los Angeles TV news helicopter crash https://t.co/9dUrFpO672

— ABC11 EyewitnessNews (@ABC11_WTVD) September 16, 2026

For news helicopters, time pressure and complex urban airspace can raise risk. Experts have said the aircraft themselves can be safe, but operations falter when training, oversight, or decisions fall short. Past news chopper disasters, including collisions and controlled flight into terrain, have led investigators to recommend better coordination and stricter limits in busy skies. The Los Angeles crash will test whether those lessons have been applied in live newsgathering flights today.