NBC Los Angeles News Helicopter Crash Leaves Three Dead
An NBC4 news helicopter crashed in Chatsworth, California, killing three while covering a nearby bus collision. One survivor was hospitalized.
NBC4 Helicopter Crashes During Live Coverage
An NBC4 Los Angeles news helicopter crashed in Chatsworth on September 15, 2026, while covering a nearby Metro bus collision. The Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD) confirmed three fatalities at the scene, including one pedestrian on the ground. A fourth individual was transported to a hospital in unknown condition. The station's anchor Colleen Williams announced the crash live at 9 p.m. PT, identifying the aircraft as News Chopper 4.
Timeline of the Incident
The helicopter went down between two commercial buildings around 7 p.m. local time. LAFD reported 56 firefighters responded to extinguish the resulting fire, which damaged four vehicles and two storage containers but did not spread to nearby structures. Authorities noted the helicopter was "pretty well destroyed," with debris complicating victim identification.
Connection to Bus Collision Coverage
Multiple news helicopters had been circling the area earlier that evening to film a separate fatal bus crash. The NBC4 chopper lost contact with its base shortly before going down. Fox 11 reported two victims were aboard the aircraft, while the third was a ground bystander standing in a parking lot.
Investigation Underway
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) will lead the crash investigation. LAFD Captain Branden Silverman stated the agency couldn't immediately determine how many occupants were inside the helicopter due to the severity of the wreckage.
Official Responses
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass expressed devastation on social media, mourning "those we lost in the tragic bus collision and helicopter crash." NBC4 paused regular programming following the confirmation, with Williams telling viewers the team needed time to process the incident.
Safety Record of News Helicopters
While the cause remains undetermined, this marks one of the deadliest incidents involving a Los Angeles news helicopter in recent years. The city's competitive media landscape frequently deploys aircraft for breaking news coverage, with multiple stations maintaining helicopter fleets.
How to Support Victims' Families
Viewers seeking to assist can donate to the National Press Photographers Association's safety fund, which supports journalists injured in line of duty. The NTSB typically releases preliminary crash reports within 10 business days.
