A tragic helicopter crash in Los Angeles’ Chatsworth neighborhood claimed three lives today (Sept. 15, 2026) when an NBC4 news helicopter crash occurred as workers covered a road accident in the city’s San Fernando Valley.
The crash involved NBC4's NewsChopper 4 and, later, NBC4's news anchor Colleen Williams confirmed on live television that the aircraft belonged to the station. NBC had earlier said it had lost contact with its team in the air.
Helicopter Crashes near Commercial Buildings.
The helicopter went down in the 9100 block of Mason Avenue in Chatsworth between commercial buildings. The aircraft erupted into flames when it crashed and vehicles and storage containers were also damaged by the fire.
Los Angeles firefighters were quick to respond as well, with more than 50 firefighters responding to the fire and securing the area. Three people died in the helicopter crash. Another person has been transported to a hospital and at least one person was taken to the hospital with injuries, but no immediate information was available.
NBC4 was covering another Deadly Accident
The news helicopter had been operating in the area because reporters and emergency crews were covering an earlier road accident involving an SUV and a Los Angeles Metro bus.
The collision occurred several blocks away and had already resulted in multiple casualties. The Metro bus was eastbound on Nordhoff Street when an SUV driving southbound on De Soto Avenue struck it, according to the Los Angeles Times. Three people were killed and several injured in the vehicle accident.
The proximity of the two incidents triggered an emergency response in Chatsworth, with police, firefighters, medical personnel and media crews already at the location.
3 dead, 1 injured after an NBC/KNBC LA helicopter crashed in Chatsworth, Los Angeles, California.
— GeoTechWar (@geotechwar) September 16, 2026
Crash occurred near a deadly bus crash site. LAFD on scene. pic.twitter.com/pKfahhN0r9
Anchor confirms NBC News Chopper crash.
NBC4 anchor Colleen Williams confirmed in the live coverage that the aircraft involved was the station's NewsChopper 4. Williams had previously reported that NBC had lost contact with its crew earlier.
The emotional confirmation came as the station tried to establish what had happened to the people aboard the helicopter.
Investigation Underway
We do not know the cause of the helicopter crash yet. The National Transportation Safety Board and Federal Aviation Administration are to investigate the circumstances of the accident.
The aircraft, flight path, weather conditions, communications and other factors will be studied as part of the investigation. At present no definitive cause should be attributed to the crash.
