World
NBC4 NewsChopper4 crashes in Los Angeles while covering bus collision, 3 killed
NBC4 anchor Colleen Williams confirmed during a live broadcast that the station’s NewsChopper4 had gone down shortly before 7 pm after the station lost contact with its crew.
FULL ARTICLE · The Indian Express World
3 min readUpdated: Sep 17, 2026 09:26 PM IST
In this still image provided by KABC-TV shows first responders work the scene after a helicopter crashed near a bus crash in Chatsworth, a neighbourhood in Los Angeles, Tuesday, September 15, 2026. (AP)
A local NBC4 Los Angeles news helicopter crashed and burst into flames in Chatsworth on Tuesday evening, killing three people, including two who were aboard the aircraft, officials and the station said. A third person was killed on the ground.
NBC4 anchor Colleen Williams confirmed during a live broadcast that the station’s NewsChopper4 had gone down shortly before 7 pm after the station lost contact with its crew. The broadcast was then interrupted. The helicopter went down about 1.6 km from the site of the earlier SUV-Metro bus collision.
Authorities had not released the identities of the two people aboard the helicopter.
“We knew it was a news chopper. We knew we’d lost contact with our people out there, and we’ve just received the confirmation that, in fact, NewsChopper 4 went down just before 7 o’clock tonight in Chatsworth,” Williams said during the broadcast.
The helicopter crashed near a commercial building in Chatsworth while its crew was covering an earlier collision between an SUV and a Metro bus that killed at least two people and injured six others, according to officials.
The National Transportation Safety Board will lead the investigation, with the Federal Aviation Administration also involved, officials said.
VIDEO | Los Angeles, US: A local NBC news helicopter crashed and burst into flames, killing at least three people while reporters were covering the nearby crash of an SUV and a city bus.#LosAngeles #NBC #HelicopterCrash (Source: AFP/PTI) (Only for use in India) pic.twitter.com/1j7TS8BF2T — Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) September 16, 2026
At least one helicopter crash victim was on ground: LA officials
At least one person killed in the helicopter crash was outside in a parking lot next to a commercial building, Los Angeles Fire Department Captain Branden Silverman said. It remained unclear whether the other two victims were on the ground or inside the helicopter. Silverman described the helicopter as “pretty well destroyed”. Crews searched through the wreckage following the crash.
One person was taken to the hospital, though their condition was not known. Capt. Branden Silverman, a spokesperson for the Los Angeles Fire Department, said the helicopter was “pretty well destroyed” and officials were searching the rubble to determine how many victims were on board.
Story continues below this ad
At least four cars and two storage containers also caught fire after the helicopter crashed. The fire was quickly extinguished, officials said.
More than 50 firefighters respond to Los Angeles helicopter crash
More than 50 firefighters responded to the crash, according to the Los Angeles Fire Department.
© IE Online Media Services Pvt Ltd
The Express Global Desk at indianexpress.com which delivers authoritative, verified, and context-driven coverage of key international developments shaping global politics, policy, and migration trends. The desk focuses on stories with direct relevance for Indian and global audiences, combining breaking news with in-depth explainers and analysis. A major focus area of the desk is US immigration and visa policy, including developments related to student visas, work permits, permanent residency pathways, executive actions, and court rulings. The Global Desk also closely tracks Canada’s immigration, visa, and study policies, covering changes to study permits, post-study work options, permanent residence programmes, and regulatory updates affecting migrants and international students. All reporting from the Global Desk adheres to The Indian Express’ editorial standards, relying on official data, government notifications, court documents, and on-record sources. The desk prioritises clarity, accuracy, and accountability, ensuring readers can navigate complex global systems with confidence. Core Team The Express Global Desk is led by a team of experienced journalists and editors with deep expertise in international affairs and migration policy: Aniruddha Dhar – Senior Assistant Editor with extensive experience in global affairs, international politics, and editorial leadership. Nischai Vats – Deputy Copy Editor specialising in US politics, US visa and immigration policy, and policy-driven international coverage. Mashkoora Khan – Sub-editor focusing on global developments, with a strong emphasis on Canada visa, immigration, and study-related policy coverage. ... Read More
Stay updated with the latest - Click here to follow us on Instagram
SOURCE