Three dead after helicopter crashes in Chatsworth, Los Angeles

Three people have died after a helicopter crashed in Chatsworth, in the San Fernando Valley area of Los Angeles. One of those who died was a pedestrian on the ground.

The aircraft came down between two commercial buildings, according to Deadline, which published its report on 16 September GMT. The report came in at around 7 p.m. local time. The Los Angeles Fire Department confirmed the downed helicopter in its incident alert.

The response was large and organised. A total of 56 firefighters attended the scene.

Paramedics assessed four patients. Three were determined deceased on scene. One person was taken to a local hospital in unknown condition, the Fire Department said in its update, carried by Deadline.

The crash started a fire. That fire has now been completely extinguished.

Four automobiles and two storage containers were damaged by the fire. No further injuries beyond the four patients assessed have been reported by officials.

The investigation will be handled by the NTSB and the FAA, the US air safety investigator and aviation regulator. That is standard practice after a civil aircraft crash.

Several TV news helicopters were in the Chatsworth area at the time, covering a separate Metro bus crash, according to NBC Los Angeles. Officials have not yet released further details about the helicopter involved or the cause of the crash.