Three dead after helicopter crash in Los Angeles, fire department says

The NTSB and FAA will handle the investigation, the fire department said.Follow us on GoogleThe NTSB and FAA will handle the investigation of a helicopter has crashed in Los Angeles that have left at least three people dead, September 16, 2026. (Illustrative)(photo credit: Michael Swensen/Getty Images)SEPTEMBER 16, 2026 06:22Updated: SEPTEMBER 16, 2026 07:28A helicopter has crashed in Los Angeles, and three people were determined to be dead at the scene, with a fourth victim taken to the hospital in unknown condition, CBS Los Angeles reported Tuesday.The NTSB and FAA will handle the investigation, the fire department said.The crash occurred in the San Fernando Valley, between two commercial buildings near the 9100 block of N. Mason Avenue, with the aircraft appearing to have landed on top of two shipping containers and several parked vehicles.The circumstances surrounding the crash remain unclear.According to the report, a large fire broke out after the crash and spread to nearby vehicles.An LAFD helicopter drops water on the Getty Fire burning near the Getty Center in the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area in Los Angeles on September 9, 2026. (Illustrative) (credit: David Swanson / AFP via Getty Image)According to several media reports, the helicopter involved in the crash was a television news helicopter, as several TV news helicopters were in the area reporting on the bus collision.Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass said she was "devastated" by the loss of life in the helicopter crash and the bus collision in Chatsworth, thanking emergency responders for their swift response.Reuters could not immediately verify whether the helicopter involved was a TV news helicopter. The Los Angeles Fire Department did not immediately respond to emailed requests for further details."We do have one confirmed patient who seemed to be outside of the helicopter when it crashed," said LAFD Captain Branden Silverman. "That person was declared deceased on scene... At this point, we have not confirmed how many victims, or how many people, were inside the helicopter."Helicopter destroyed in crash, fire department officer says"The helicopter itself, it's pretty well destroyed, so we are going to have to go through the rubble and see how many victims there were on board as well as identify the helicopter," Silverman said.Los Angeles police are also investigating the crash.Follow us on Google