HOUSTON – Authorities in Texas are investigating a tragic helicopter crash in Houston that claimed 4 people’s lives, including a child’s after the aircraft struck a radio tower on Sunday night.
PIO is en route to a reported helicopter crash at Engelke & Ennis. Preliminary info that a helicopter hit a radio tower at about 7:54 pm. No details yet on injuries/fatalities. All info further information will come from the scene. #hounews
— Houston Fire Dept (@HoustonFire) October 21, 2024
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The Houston Fire Department said the crash happened at about 7:54 p.m. on the city’s East End.
Houston Mayor John Whitmire said HFD Station 17 was right down the street from where the helicopter hit a radio tower and was at the scene within minutes.
“This is a tragic event tonight, it’s a tragic loss of life,” Whitmire said.
According to Houston Police Chief Noe Diaz, the helicopter had taken off from Ellington Field and was headed to an unknown destination when it crashed.
HPD confirmed Monday morning that 4 people, including a child, are believed to have been on the helicopter that crashed.
“We don’t know the age ranges yet, but that we are pretty sure,” Diaz said.
Authorities say there may be pieces of the helicopter that people find when the sun comes up in the morning. They are asking anyone who may come across these pieces not to touch it and to contact police or firefighters so they can come retrieve it.
No one on the ground was hurt from the crash and the collapse of the tower which was hit. No structures on the ground other than the tower were damaged.
“We were very fortunate it didn’t topple one way or the other,” Whitmire said.
The resulting fire from the crash burned about 100-200 yards of grass in the immediate area of the tower. It has since been extinguished.
The people killed in the crash have not yet been identified.
“My prayers are with the families of the people in the helicopter,” Chief Diaz said.
The FAA, NTSB, DPS, HPD, and HFD are all investigating the crash.
Manuel Arciniega was in the area when the crash happened.
“My buddy behind me told me to look up in the sky and I just saw the cell tower crumbling down, they said a helicopter hit it,” he said.
I am monitoring the helicopter crash that occurred tonight. The helicopter that crashed in Second Ward was not an HPD helicopter, it was a private touring helicopter. As I receive more information I will share it with you.
— Mario Castillo (@MarioforHouston) October 21, 2024
Houston City Councilmember for District H, Mario Castillo, says the helicopter was a private touring helicopter.
The FAA is investigating.