A helicopter providing aerial news coverage of a fatal bus collision in Los Angeles crashed Tuesday evening, killing three people, authorities and broadcasters said.

The crash occurred in the Chatsworth area shortly before 7pm.

The helicopter was covering a Metro bus collision that had killed at least two people earlier in the day.

NBC4 and Telemundo 52 confirmed that the helicopter had been providing news coverage for their stations.

“We are deeply saddened to share that a helicopter providing aerial news coverage for NBC4 and Telemundo 52 was involved in a fatal accident in Los Angeles on Tuesday evening,” the broadcasters said in a joint statement.

The stations offered condolences to the victims’ families, friends and colleagues.

Journalist and Pilot Among Those Killed

NBC News identified two of the victims as employees of helicopter operator Angel City Air.

They were journalist and photojournalist Eliana Moreno and pilot George Marciniw.

A third person died outside the helicopter, according to the Los Angeles Fire Department.

The helicopter suffered extensive damage in the crash.

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Authorities have not yet announced what caused the aircraft to crash.

NBC4 Announces Crash During Live Broadcast

NBC4 reported the crash on air after its newsroom lost contact with the helicopter crew.

“We knew we’d lost contact with our people out there,” anchor Colleen Williams said during the emotional broadcast.

She later confirmed that NewsChopper 4 had gone down in Chatsworth shortly before 7pm.

The announcement brought the tragedy into the station’s live coverage.

Two other people suffered injuries and were taken to hospital, the fire department said.

More than 70 firefighters responded to the crash.

Firefighters quickly brought the blaze under control at the scene.

Bus Collision Preceded Helicopter Crash

The helicopter had been covering a separate Metro bus collision in Chatsworth.

That earlier crash killed at least two people, according to authorities.

The sequence of events brought emergency responders and news crews to the area before the helicopter went down.

Authorities have not said whether the earlier bus collision had any connection to the helicopter crash.

Officials Offer Condolences

California Governor Gavin Newsom expressed condolences to those affected by both incidents.

“Our hearts are with the victims and families of tonight’s devastating Metro bus and helicopter crashes in Chatsworth, and with the entire NBC4 family,” Newsom said.

Angel City Air, which operated the helicopter, did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment.

Authorities are expected to investigate the cause of the crash.