Helicopter Crash Kills at Least Three Near Bus Crash in Los Angeles

A helicopter crashed into a parking lot in Los Angeles on Tuesday, September 15, 2026, killing at least three people and injuring another person, according to officials. The injured person was taken to a hospital, but their condition was not immediately known.

Authorities were still trying to determine how many people were inside the helicopter when it crashed. Officials had also not confirmed whether all of the people who died were passengers or occupants of the helicopter.

Los Angeles Fire Department Captain Branden Silverman said at least one victim was found outside the helicopter in the parking lot. Investigators were working at the scene to identify the victims and determine exactly what happened before and during the crash.

The helicopter came down in a parking lot near several parked vehicles. The parking area was connected to a large one-story building, although officials had not immediately identified what the building was used for.

More than 50 firefighters responded to the crash site. The accident caused a fire, which damaged four cars and two storage containers in the parking area. Firefighters were able to contain the fire by Tuesday evening.

Silverman said the helicopter was badly damaged in the crash. Because the aircraft was heavily destroyed, emergency crews and investigators faced the difficult task of carefully examining the wreckage to locate and identify victims.

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) are leading the investigation. Investigators are expected to examine the helicopter, the crash site and other available evidence to determine what caused the accident.

The helicopter crash occurred on the same day as another serious traffic accident in Los Angeles. Earlier Tuesday, an SUV collided with a city bus, killing two people and injuring six others.

Photos and videos shared online showed the severity of the bus crash. The front portion of the SUV appeared to be heavily embedded in the side of an MTA bus, while firefighters and emergency personnel worked around the damaged vehicles.

The two incidents were separate accidents, but both required emergency crews to respond to serious scenes across Los Angeles on the same day.

Officials are continuing to investigate the helicopter crash, and further information is expected as investigators identify the victims, determine how many people were aboard the aircraft and establish the cause of the crash.