By Daily Mail (U.S.) | Created at 2024-10-21 05:35:24 | Updated at 2024-10-21 07:45:19
2 hours ago
A helicopter crashed Sunday in Houston after hitting a radio tower, killing four people on board, including a child, fire officials said.
The crash took place in Houston's second ward near Engelke Street and North Ennis Street just before 8pm Sunday, knocking down the tower, according to Mayor John Whitmire.
Whitmire said that the aircraft left Ellington Airport Sunday evening, though it was unclear where it was heading.
Houston Police Chief Noe Diaz has said that four people were on the privately-owned touring helicopter and the crash is believed to be an 'accident.'
Officials have made a bleak request of nearby residents, asking them to look for both fallen helicopter parts and human remains when they wake up in the morning.
Multiple people are dead, including a child, after a shocking crash in Houston where a helicopter slammed into a communications tower
The crash took place in Houston's second ward near Engelke Street and North Ennis Street just before 8pm Sunday, knocking down the tower, according to Mayor John Whitmire
'It will be a large investigation because of the expanse of the accident,' Diaz said, noting that the Federal Aviation Administration will be involved.
Authorities say that it appears no one on the ground was killed or hurt from the crash.
Whitmire believes it will take several days to clean up from the crash. The scene has been blocked off from the public.
'This is a tragic event tonight, it's a tragic loss of life,' Whitmire added.
He added that the entire city is lucky the crash wasn't even worse, as there is a butane tank nearby.
The fire - which burned about 100-200 yards of grass in the immediate area - was put out by around 9:30pm local time, though some homes in the area remained without power, according to CNN.
'We saw this bright light flying toward the church,' said Marco Perez, who was at an outdoor concert nearby.
'That light turned into an orange red fireball,' he told the Houston Chronicle.
'We saw this bright light flying toward the church,' said Marco Perez, who was at an outdoor concert nearby
Authorities say that it appears no one on the ground was killed or hurt from the crash
Perez and his grandson said that the metal that fell to the ground resembled 'spaghetti.'
Officials said that both National Transportation Safety Board and the Federal Aviation Administration would investigate.
This is a developing story.
