HOUSTON — A helicopter crashed into a radio tower, killing multiple, including a child, near downtown Houston Sunday night, according to the Houston Fire Department.
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.
Houston Mayor John Whitmire, HFD Chief Thomas Muñoz, HPD Chief Noe Diaz and DPS gathered for a news conference following the crash. Mayor Whitmire said the Houston Fire Department 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 secured 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 Chief Diaz, family members haven't been notified yet.
The helicopter was an R44 private aircraft coming from Ellington. 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 site of the radio tower.
The fire was put out and there's no threat to the community.
Officials are asking residents that if they see components of an aircraft, don't touch them and call 911.
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 ran to try and help. When he got closer to the scene, he saw flames and big chunks of metal nearby homes. 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."
The Federal Aviation Administration, the National Transportation Safety Board, HFD and HPD are investigating the crash.
Per an FAA NOTAM, the lights on the radio tower were reported as inoperable on Oct. 16.
Watch the full update from officials below: