Four people, including a child, lost their lives Sunday evening when an R44 helicopter collided with a radio tower in Houston, Texas. The crash occurred shortly after the helicopter departed from Ellington Field, about 15 miles from the accident site, at around 7:45 PM local time.
Houston officials confirmed that all victims were on board, with no injuries reported on the ground. The accident, which happened near a butane tank in a residential area, raised fears of a potential disaster. A fire ignited by the crash spread across two to three blocks, but firefighters from HFD Station 17 quickly contained it.
Houston Mayor John Whitmire described the event as a tragic loss of life. Investigations by the FAA, NTSB, and local officials are underway to determine what caused the crash near Engelke and N. Ennis Streets, just minutes from Minute Maid Park.