Four people, including a child, died Sunday evening in a helicopter crash in Houston, Texas, that destroyed a radio transmission tower, authorities said.
The helicopter “either hit a cable (securing the tower, Editor’s note) or hit the tower itself,” said Houston police chief Noe Diaz during a press briefing.
All people on board the plane died, authorities said, adding that no one was injured on the ground.
According to the mayor of the large east Texas city, John Whitmire, the accident took place near residential areas and a butane gas tank.
“We were very lucky that it didn’t fall one way or another,” he said.
Videos filmed at night show a bright, flashing dot moving in the sky and suddenly bursting into flames.
In other aerial images, a tangle of red and white metal beams can be seen on the ground appearing to come from the destroyed telecommunications tower.
This private aircraft had taken off shortly before from an airport located less than 30 kilometers from the accident site, according to the authorities. His destination was not known.
