HOUSTON — A helicopter crashed into a radio tower, killing multiple people, including a child, near downtown Houston Sunday night.
HFD received a report around 7:55 p.m. of the crash near Engelke Street near Ennis Street and Navigation Boulevard, causing the fire to break out. On Monday, we learned the Houston Police Department's vehicular crimes unit would spend several hours going through the roughly four acres of coverage area from the crash.
New video from Air 11 showed the crumbled tower with a portion of the helicopter visible under it. The new daylight video also showed the area around the tower that burned.
What we know right now
- Crash happened around 7:55 p.m. near Engelke Street near Ennis Street in the Second Ward
- Four people, including a child, on board the R44 aircraft died in the crash, their identities have not been released
- The helicopter was coming from Ellington Airport, but its destination remains unclear
- If you find debris, don’t touch it and call 911
- The FAA, NTSB, HFD, and HPD are investigating the crash
- FAA noted that the radio tower's lights had been reported as inoperable on Oct. 16
Houston Mayor John Whitmire, HFD Chief Thomas Muñoz, HPD Chief Noe Diaz, and DPS gathered for a news conference following the crash. Whitmire said the HFD was there within minutes.
“We got a fire station, 17, one of our major stations a block away,” he said. “They heard the explosion and responded. First ones on the scene were Houston fire to secure the area, make sure considerations for electricity, gas, and other provisions were taken care of. “
Officials confirmed all four people on the helicopter, including a child, died in the crash. Their names and ages have not been released. According to Diaz, family members haven't been notified yet.
"This is a tragic event tonight. A tragic loss of life," Diaz said.
The helicopter was an R44 private aircraft coming from Ellington Airport, about 17 miles from the crash site. At this point, it's not clear where the helicopter was going.
No outside structures were damaged. According to officials, the fire burned about 100 to 200 yards of grass near the radio tower site.
The fire was put out and there's no threat to the community. No civilian or residential injuries have been reported.
On Monday morning, HPD Lt. Jonathan French said the crash site appears to cover about four acres.
Officials are asking residents not to touch any components of the crashed aircraft and to call 911.
"Now, we are out in the daylight more things are going to be found. I’d stress to folks please don’t touch anything," he said. "Evidence preservation as well as respect. Respect for these families that are going through this tragedy right now. We have multiple resources out here. So please find an officer and let them know about this."
French said they do not have confirmation on any damage to homes, but they do know that several vehicles were damaged.
French also said HPD's Vehicular Crimes Division is conducting a three-dimensional scan of the area which would take about four to five hours, and the data would be shared with the Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board. Those two federal agencies are the leads in the investigation into the crash.
HFD is also part of the investigation.
The NTSB is expected to provide more details once their team arrives later on Monday.
Here is HPD's full update from Monday:
A witness told KHOU 11 News he was with some people at a restaurant nearby when they heard the crash. He said it sounded like fireworks or gunshots at first. He said he ran to try and help. When he got closer to the scene, he saw flames and big chunks of metal near homes. He said he originally thought it was a crane that had been hit.
"I didn't know if it was a chemical explosion or if there was, I don't know what had happened," said Eric Haney, who lives nearby. "So my immediate thought was just to get in my car and evacuate."
Per an FAA NOTAM, the lights on the radio tower were reported as inoperable on Oct. 16.
Watch the full update from officials below: