Several people, including a child, died in a helicopter crash in Houston, Texas, on Sunday, local authorities confirmed.
The helicopter, reportedly carrying four passengers, struck a radio tower in the eastern part of the city that evening, according to the Houston Fire Department.
A significant number of emergency personnel responded to the scene.
Fire officials said the victims were aboard the helicopter, but their identities have not yet been released.
Authorities believe the aircraft was a privately owned R44 helicopter, which had departed from Ellington Field, about 15 miles (24 km) from the crash site.
Local media, including KHOU-TV, reported that the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) had issued an earlier notice indicating that the tower’s lights were not functioning.
Images shared by the fire department showed emergency responders examining the wreckage.
During a press conference, Police Chief J. Noe Diaz confirmed no one on the ground was harmed.
Fire Chief Thomas Munoz explained that the crash caused a fire to spread over a “big area of land” spanning two to three blocks.
“Fortunately, there were no residents, but it was near homes,” Munoz added. Houston Mayor John Whitmire noted it was “fortunate” the crash didn’t trigger a larger explosion.
Some nearby homes lost power due to the crash, but officials stated that the radio tower was the only structure damaged on the ground.
The FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board will be investigating the incident.
Source-BBC
