3 Dead in Fiery Helicopter Crash as NBC Anchor Says ‘We Have Lost Contact With Our People’

A devastating helicopter crash in Los Angeles has left three people dead after a news helicopter plunged to the ground and erupted into flames near the scene of an earlier deadly bus crash.

The helicopter went down Tuesday evening in the Chatsworth area of the San Fernando Valley, sending a huge fireball into the air and prompting an immediate emergency response.

The aircraft was believed to be associated with NBC4. During the unfolding tragedy, NBC4 anchor Colleen Williams became visibly emotional while reporting the incident live.

“We have lost contact with our people,” she told viewers as the station struggled to establish contact with its crew.

The Los Angeles Fire Department later confirmed that three people had died. One additional person was transported to a hospital in grave condition.

The crash occurred close to the site of an earlier fatal Metro bus collision, meaning emergency crews were already operating in the area when the helicopter came down.

The helicopter reportedly crashed between buildings on Mason Avenue, with flames also spreading to nearby vehicles. Firefighters responded quickly and eventually brought the blaze under control.

Authorities have begun investigating what caused the helicopter to crash. Federal aviation investigators are expected to examine the aircraft, its flight path and other circumstances surrounding the incident.

The tragedy has sent shockwaves through the local news community, particularly because the helicopter was reportedly covering the earlier crash when disaster struck.

Further details about the victims and the cause of the crash are expected as the investigation continues.