Helicopter crashes near commercial area in Los Angeles, three victims

Three people have died after a helicopter crashed in a residential area on the outskirts of Los Angeles, local fire authorities confirmed.

The incident occurred shortly before 7:00 p.m. local time on Tuesday near the intersection of Lurline Avenue and Nordhoff Street in the Chatsworth neighborhood.

According to a spokesperson for the Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD), the helicopter ended up between two commercial buildings.

Another person was taken for treatment to a local hospital, but authorities have not yet provided information on their condition.

Videos released from the accident site showed two shipping containers and several vehicles engulfed in flames. Later, firefighters announced that the blaze had been extinguished.

LAFD Captain Branden Silverman said that one of the victims was found outside the helicopter and was pronounced dead at the scene.

So far, authorities have not determined how many people were on board at the time of the crash or who was piloting the helicopter.

Local media reported that the aircraft might have been a news helicopter that was in the area near the scene of an earlier fatal bus accident.

The Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) announced that the helicopter was not owned or operated by the police.

The investigation to determine the causes and circumstances of the crash will be led by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB).