A helicopter that crashed into a Houston radio tower Sunday, killing all four people aboard and starting a fire below, was on an air tour flight when the accident occurred, the National Transportation Safety Board said.
The Robinson R44 helicopter struck the tower and crashed at around 7:51 pm Sunday, said the NTSB, which is investigating the crash. The ages and names of those killed were not released by officials Monday, but one of them was a child, Houston’s police chief said Sunday.
“Our condolences go to the family and friends of those who were lost,” NTSB investigator Brian Rutt said Monday. He said the wreckage is a “complex scene” and officials are being meticulous in their approach.
The helicopter took off from Ellington Airport, which is in Houston, the NTSB said.
The aircraft struck a “guyed tower,” a structure that has cables attached to the ground, a spokesman for communications company SBA Communications said.
The tower was acquired by SBA Communications on Sept. 4 and there was a “notice to air missions,” known as a NOTAM, in place to warn pilots, the spokesman said.
The crash also brought down the tower. Debris covers approximately four acres, Houston police Lt. Jonathan French said at a news conference Monday.
Some vehicles on the ground were damaged, but there have been no reports of anyone on the ground being injured, French said. He said police and residents of the neighborhood were thankfully more people weren’t hurt or killed.
“This was a horrible tragedy, but obviously it could have been much worse,” French said.