A helicopter exploded into flames in Houston on Sunday night when it crashed into a radio tower, killing four people on board, including a child, fire officials said.
The fiery 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 departed from 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, including the child. The crash was 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.
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
Diaz noted that victims’ families still have to be notified before they can release their identities.
He also said that the investigation will likely take some time and multiple agencies due to its size.
‘It will be a large investigation because of the expanse of the accident,’ he said.
Officials said that both National Transportation Safety Board and the Federal Aviation Administration would investigate.
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.
Marco Perez was at an outdoor concert when he saw a bright light ‘flying toward the church’
Authorities say that it appears no one on the ground was killed or hurt from the crash
‘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.
Perez and his grandson said that the metal that fell to the ground resembled ‘spaghetti.’
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.