WATCH helicopter slam into radio tower in US

The accident in Houston, Texas claimed the lives of four people, including a child, according to local officials

A helicopter crashed into a radio tower in the US city of Houston, Texas, on Sunday evening, leaving four people including a child dead, the local authorities have said, adding that were no casualties on the ground.

Nearby security camera caught the crash as it happened. Multiple videos made by locals also appear to show the aftermath of the accident.

The fatal accident occurred just before 8pm local time, when a privately owned R44 helicopter struck a radio tower in the city’s Greater East End neighborhood after taking off from Ellington Field, about 24km away, Houston Police Chief J. Noe Diaz said at a press conference.

According to Houston mayor John Whitmire, it is fortunate that the tragic incident wasn’t worse, given that there was gas tank and residential buildings near the crash site.

WATCH: #Houston helicopter crash pic.twitter.com/onXKtq6Z1T

— UpToDate (@UpToDateNewsSvc) October 21, 2024

Additional video of #houston helicopter crash. Appears tower had beacon on 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/FSpQm0OxDn

— Houston Air Watch 🚁🛰️ (@houstonairw) October 21, 2024

The tower “is surrounded by residents and that’s where we were very fortunate that it didn’t topple in one direction or another,” Whitmire said. “The fireball was pretty much isolated.”

A helicopter crashed into a radio tower in east Houston, killing multiple people, including a child. https://t.co/zRcMYHuwl8 pic.twitter.com/KuFtE5UXG5

— Pooja Lodhia (@PoojaOnTV) October 21, 2024

After the radio tower collapsed, a fire the size of two or three city blocks ignited in a grass field, Fire Department Chief Thomas Munoz said, adding that emergency responders were at the scene within minutes.

BREAKING ALERT 🚨
HELICOPTER CRASHES INTO RADIO TOWER NEAR HOUSTON’S EAST HFD‼️

HFD received a report around 7:55 p.m. that a helicopter hit a radio tower on Engelke Street near Ennis Street and Navigation Boulevard. A fire erupted in the area.

At this time, HFD has no reports… pic.twitter.com/Jc6nK6Li8x

— SANTINO (@MichaelSCollura) October 21, 2024

The crash is being investigated by the Federal Aviation Administration.