Chatsworth Double Tragedy
Two Separate Crashes in Chatsworth Leave Six Dead and Seven Injured
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Key Points
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Los Angeles firefighters said one of the helicopter-crash victims was a pedestrian outside the aircraft; officials were still trying to determine how many victims had been aboard the helicopter.
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The helicopter fire spread to four nearby vehicles and two storage containers before being extinguished, with more than 50 firefighters responding to the scene.
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An L.A. Urban Search and Rescue team helped extricate multiple people from the Metro bus, and one person was reported trapped beneath the vehicle.
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The helicopter crashed between two commercial buildings at 9151 Mason Avenue and caught fire immediately, according to fire officials.
Two catastrophic crashes struck Chatsworth, Los Angeles on Tuesday evening, leaving six dead and seven injured. Fox LA reports that shortly after 5 p.m., an SUV collided with a Metro Line 166 bus near Nordhoff Street and De Soto Avenue, killing three people and hospitalizing six others. Hours later, an NBC4 news helicopter crashed near Mason Avenue, killing three more people including a pedestrian and injuring another, according to USA Today.
SUV Plows Into Metro Bus During Evening Commute
The first disaster unfolded at 5:02 p.m. when a southbound SUV ran through an intersection and struck the left side of an eastbound Metro Line 166 bus. The collision killed three people instantly. Over 50 Los Angeles firefighters arrived within minutes to rescue trapped passengers. Urban Search and Rescue teams worked to extract multiple people from the wreckage, with at least one victim pinned beneath the vehicle.
Six victims from the bus crash were transported to hospitals. Firefighters worked through the evening to free those trapped inside the metal frame. CBS News confirmed that rescue operations continued for more than an hour as crews carefully extracted survivors from the damaged bus.
NBC4 News Helicopter Loses Contact and Crashes
At 6:57 p.m., just hours after the bus collision, NBC4's *NewsChopper 4* lost radio contact with the station and crashed into a storage lot between two commercial buildings at 9151 N. Mason Avenue. The helicopter caught fire immediately upon impact. USA Today reports that three people died in the crash, including at least one pedestrian who was on the ground outside the aircraft when it hit.
The helicopter fire spread to four nearby vehicles and two storage containers before firefighters extinguished the flames. NBC4 anchor Colleen Williams confirmed on live television at around 9 p.m. that the crashed aircraft belonged to the station. She stated: "We knew it was a news chopper. We knew we'd lost contact with our people out there, and we've just received confirmation." Daily Beirut noted that the crash occurred during the station's live coverage of the earlier bus collision.
Investigators Begin Examining Both Crashes
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) launched investigations into the helicopter crash. Fire officials clarified that one of the three helicopter fatalities was a pedestrian on the ground, not aboard the aircraft. Captain Branden Silverman of the Los Angeles Fire Department stated: "We do have one confirmed patient that seemed to be outside of the helicopter when it crashed. That person was declared deceased on scene."
The Los Angeles Police Department is investigating the initial bus collision separately. Investigators will examine flight recorder data, mechanical debris, and communications between air traffic control and the helicopter pilot. The causes of both crashes remain under investigation. CBS News reported that authorities are working to determine exactly how many people were aboard the helicopter at the time of impact.
Chatsworth Community Reels From Dual Tragedies
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass expressed grief over the catastrophic evening, stating: "I'm absolutely devastated by the loss of life in Chatsworth tonight. My heart is with the families and loved ones of those we lost in the tragic bus collision and helicopter crash." The back-to-back disasters left the community stunned and raised questions about emergency response procedures in the area.
The dual crashes killed six people total and sent seven others to hospitals, with rescue operations stretching into the late evening. More than 50 firefighters responded across both disaster sites. Desert Sun reported that witnesses described the helicopter crash as sudden, with the aircraft igniting immediately after impact near the commercial buildings.
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