Helicopter crashes into radio tower near downtown Houston, killing 4 people

HOUSTON (AP) — Four people aboard a helicopter were killed when it crashed into a Houston radio tower and burst into flames, officials said.

The helicopter crashed shortly before 8 p.m. Sunday in a neighborhood east of downtown after taking off from Ellington Field, about 15 miles away, Mayor John Whitmire said at a news conference. He didn't know the destination of the flight.

Officials said no one on the ground was injured and no nearby homes were damaged, but some vehicles were damaged. The crash sparked a fire that burned about 100 to 200 yards (91 to 183 meters) of grass, officials said.

Firefighters from a nearby station heard the accident and responded, Whitmire said. He said it was a “terrible accident scene” and the tower and helicopter were destroyed. Some residents lost power, Whitmire said.

“It's surrounded by residential buildings and we were very lucky – that it didn't tip over one way or the other,” Whitmire said. “And the fireball was pretty much isolated.”

The National Transportation Safety Board said in a statement that it is investigating the crash of the Robinson R44 II helicopter, which preliminary information indicates was a scenic flight. The NTSB said the helicopter crashed into a radio tower “under unknown circumstances,” resulting in a fire.

Officials said a child was among the four people aboard the helicopter, but the identities of the victims and their ages have not yet been released.

Police and firefighters have urged residents near the crash site to call 911 if they find anything on their property that could help their investigation.

Police officers combed an area of ​​about 1.6 acres Monday for debris from the crash, Lt. Jonathan French.

NTSB investigators, who arrived on scene Monday, began collecting evidence and will return Tuesday to continue that work, said Brian Rutt, an aviation safety investigator with the agency. The Federal Aviation Administration is also investigating.

Photo: A view from the north side of the collapsed radio tower where a helicopter collided with the structure in Houston on Monday, October 21, 2024, killing everyone inside. (Michael Wyke/Houston Chronicle via AP)