Pilot's theory over what caused news helicopter crash that killed three from live footage audio

A former pilot thinks that the audio from the NBC news helicopter crash which killed three people gives a clue as to what went wrong.

Zoey Tur, veteran helicopter pilot and co-founder of the Los Angeles News Service, believes that the crash was a result of an engine failure.

Taking to X, she wrote: “If you listen, you could hear the low rotor RPM annunciator horn going off. You could also hear the engine rev down. This was an engine failure, and slow response into entering an auto -rotation by PiC. No survivors.”

Tur, who famously located and broadcast the police pursuit of OJ Simpson's white Ford Bronco in 1994, added in the replies: “They were in a hover at the time of the engine failure. That puts you in a disadvantage once the horn goes off.

“You need to drop the collective advance the cyclist so you get forward airspeed and perform a safe auto rotation. He may have been low.”

No official cause has yet been revealed.

At least one person killed in the helicopter crash was outside in the car park next to the commercial building, said Captain Branden Silverman, a spokesperson for the Los Angeles Fire Department.

Colleen Williams, an NBC4 Los Angeles anchor, confirmed during live broadcasts that the station’s helicopter went down just before 7pm and two people on the helicopter were killed.

“We are going to take a couple of minutes to think about that, process it,” she said just before coverage was cut.

“From the helicopter itself, it’s pretty well destroyed,” Mr Silverman said.

“So we are going to have to go through the rubble and see how many victims there were on board, as well as identify the helicopter; we couldn’t even see a tail.”

At least four cars and two storage containers on the ground set alight after the helicopter caught fire, which was quickly put out, according to officials.

More than 70 firefighters responded to the helicopter crash, to the fire department said. Dozens of police cars surrounded the scene at the storage facility as ambulances entered.

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass praised first responders and expressed her condolences to the victims.

“I’m absolutely devastated by the loss of life in Chatsworth tonight,” she said in a statement.

“My heart is with the families and loved ones of those we lost in the tragic bus collision and helicopter crash.”

California Governor Gavin Newsom also shared his condolences.

"Our hearts are with the victims and families of tonight's devastating Metro bus and helicopter crashes in Chatsworth, and with the entire NBC4 family," he said in a statement.

"Thank you to the first responders working tirelessly tonight."