In an incident in a Houston neighborhood, a helicopter crashed into a local radio tower, resulting in the deaths of four people, including one child. The Robinson R44 helicopter, which had taken off from Ellington Field Airport, went down on Sunday night, and the details surrounding the crash are still unclear. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is investigating the incident to determine its causes, reports Click2Houston.
The crash, which occurred at the intersection of Engelke and Ennis streets, had first responders immediately securing the scene. A preliminary report from the NTSB is slated to publicly be released within 30 days, while the comprehensive investigation could take up to two years to complete. Debris from the crash is set to be transported to a secure installation in Dallas for detailed analysis following the on-site investigation, an effort that can fluctuate from days up to several months, as noted by a local FAA spokesperson.
Amid speculations of malfunctioning tower lights possibly contributing to the crash, authorities highlighted that the FAA had issued a notice days prior, indicating that the lights on the radio tower were "unserviceable” until month's end. Investigative efforts now include a close examination of whether these lighting issues played a part in the crash. The helicopter was flying at an approximate altitude of 600 feet when it struck the 1,000-foot structure, details obtained by CNN indicate.
Lawrence Gurule, a resident who overheard the crash, recalled it "sounded like a bomb" in a statement to CNN. Meanwhile, the search continues for scattered fragments of the wreckage. Residents have been advised to report any debris they encounter and to not move it themselves. Investigators plan to conduct a detailed examination of the extensive four-acre crash site, with the Houston Police Department performing a three-dimensional scan to help reconstruct the events that took place.
