Three Killed As TV News Helicopter Crashes During Live Coverage Of Los Angeles Bus Crash | Video - News18

**Los Angeles, Calif. – September 15, 2026** – A news‑gathering helicopter operated by a local television station crashed into a freeway overpass moments after arriving at the scene of a multi‑vehicle bus collision on Interstate 105 near Slauson Avenue. The aircraft, a Bell 206 JetRanger, struck the concrete barrier and burst into flames, killing the three‑person crew – pilot James Miller, camera operator Sofia Lee, and reporter Carlos Diaz – and leaving a fourth crew member, a sound technician, seriously injured. Emergency responders from the Los Angeles County Fire Department and the California Highway Patrol (CHP) rushed to the site, extinguishing the blaze and evacuating the injured while also tending to the victims of the underlying bus crash, which had already claimed two lives and injured several passengers.

The bus incident, initially reported as a rear‑end collision involving a commuter coach and a freight truck, had drawn a large media presence as first responders worked to extract trapped passengers. The television helicopter was dispatched to provide live aerial footage for the station’s evening broadcast. According to CHP spokesperson Lt. Maria Gonzalez, the helicopter “lost altitude shortly after crossing the overpass, impacted the barrier, and disintegrated on contact.” The injured sound technician, identified as 29‑year‑old Ethan Park, was airlifted to **LAC+USC Medical Center**, where he remains in critical condition.

Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) officials arrived on the scene to secure the wreckage and launch a preliminary investigation. Preliminary findings suggest a possible mechanical failure of the main rotor system, though the agency has not ruled out other factors such as weather or pilot workload. The incident marks the deadliest news‑gathering helicopter accident in Southern California in more than a decade and has reignited calls from media watchdog groups for stricter safety protocols for airborne reporting. The television station has temporarily suspended all aerial newsgathering operations pending the FAA’s final report, while the families of the deceased have been offered grief counseling and support services.