PHOTOS: News helicopter crashes while covering fatal bus collision, three killed

A helicopter affiliated with NBC Los Angeles crashed while covering a fatal road collision in Chatsworth, Los Angeles, on Tuesday evening, killing a photojournalist, the pilot and a person on the ground.

According to the broadcaster, the helicopter was providing aerial coverage for NBC4 and Telemundo 52 when it went down shortly before 7pm in a parking lot at or near a self-storage facility in the San Fernando Valley community.

The aircraft had been covering an earlier collision involving an SUV and a Metro bus when it crashed.

More than 70 firefighters were dispatched to the scene as emergency crews responded to the crash and fires that spread to nearby vehicles and storage containers.

The victims included NBC4 aerial reporter Eliana Moreno and pilot George Marciniw, both employees of Angel City Air, the company operating the helicopter.

Two other people were assessed at the scene before being taken to hospital for further treatment, NBC News reported.

NBC4 had been using the helicopter to provide aerial footage of breaking news across the Los Angeles area. During its live coverage, the station confirmed that it had lost contact with the crew.

Veteran NBC4 anchor Colleen Williams became emotional as she confirmed that the aircraft belonged to the station.

“We knew it was a news chopper. We knew we’d lost contact with our people out there, and we’ve just received confirmation,” Williams said.

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) are investigating the crash.

Authorities have not yet determined what caused the helicopter to go down. It remains unclear whether mechanical failure, weather conditions or another factor contributed to the crash.

The deaths have shaken the Los Angeles news community, where aerial crews are frequently used to provide live coverage of major breaking-news events.