Four individuals on board a helicopter tragically lost their lives when the aircraft collided with a radio tower in Houston, igniting a fire, according to officials.
The incident occurred Sunday evening in a residential area east of downtown, shortly after the helicopter departed from Ellington Field, situated approximately 15 miles away. Mayor John Whitmire, speaking at a news conference, noted that the destination of the flight remains unknown.
Authorities reported that no injuries were sustained by anyone on the ground and nearby homes were not damaged, although some vehicles did suffer minor harm. The crash also resulted in a fire that scorched approximately 100 to 200 yards of grassland, officials stated.
Firefighters from a nearby station responded promptly after hearing the crash, according to Whitmire. He described the scene as devastating, noting that both the tower and the helicopter were destroyed.
Whitmire said, “It is surrounded by residences and that’s where we were very fortunate — that it didn’t topple in one direction or another.
“And the fireball pretty much was isolated.”
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has announced that it is investigating the crash of a Robinson R44 II helicopter, which initial reports indicate was conducting an air tour flight. According to the NTSB, the helicopter collided with a radio tower “under unknown circumstances,” leading to a subsequent fire.
Frances Ibiefo
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