A helicopter crashed into a radio tower in Houston on Sunday night, October 20, resulting in multiple fatalities, including a child, authorities confirmed.
The crash occurred at 7:54 p.m. in Houston’s Greater East End, near a fire station where firefighters heard the impact, Houston Mayor John Whitmire said during a news conference Sunday night.
The helicopter collided with a communication tower behind residential homes in Houston’s Second Ward, triggering a massive explosion.
The identities and ages of the victims have not yet been released.
The crash caused the radio tower to collapse, sparking a fire that spread across an area equivalent to two to three city blocks, according to a fire official who spoke with The New York Times. The tower was the only structure damaged in the incident.
Videos from the scene captured the wreckage, with police and firefighters working to keep onlookers away from the crash site.
Manuel Arciniega, who was nearby, told CNN affiliate KPRC, “My friend behind me told me to look up, and I saw the cell tower crumbling down. They said a helicopter hit it.”
Sam Elsaadi, who was dining on a patio nearby, witnessed the tower collapse. “I heard what sounded like fireworks, looked up, and saw the tower engulfed in flames before it collapsed,” Elsaadi, 42, told The New York Times. When he drove to the site, he saw debris scattered over a large area, and the grass field below was on fire.
Local media reported a significant emergency response at the scene.
Residents near the crash site have been urged by police and fire officials to contact 911 if they discover any debris on their property that could assist the investigation.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) will be conducting an investigation into the crash, according to the fire department. “This will be a large-scale investigation due to the extent of the accident,” said Houston Police Chief Noe Diaz.
