Three people were killed and another was taken to hospital after a television news helicopter crashed and burst into flames Tuesday evening in the Chatsworth neighborhood of Los Angeles, authorities said.

The Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD) said the helicopter went down shortly before 7 p.m. in the 9100 block of North Mason Avenue, between two commercial buildings. The crash sparked a fire that damaged four vehicles and two storage containers in the area. More than 70 firefighters responded to the scene.

The LAFD initially said four people had been assessed at the scene. Three were pronounced dead, while one was transported to a local hospital in unknown condition.

One of those killed was found in a parking lot next to a commercial building, while at least two others were believed to have been aboard the helicopter, according to updated reports. Authorities have not yet released the identities of the victims.

NBC Los Angeles later confirmed that the aircraft was its NewsChopper 4 helicopter, operated by Angel City Air for NBC4 and Telemundo 52 Los Angeles. The helicopter had been covering a separate deadly traffic collision nearby when it crashed.

Several television helicopters had been operating over the area after an SUV collided with a Los Angeles Metro bus earlier Tuesday afternoon. That crash, at the intersection of Nordhoff Street and De Soto Avenue, killed two people and left at least six others hospitalized, according to the LAFD. Firefighters had to extricate several people trapped in the bus.

The helicopter went down roughly two hours after the bus collision, turning an already deadly incident into a second tragedy in the same area.

The cause of the helicopter crash remains unknown. Federal investigators from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) are expected to investigate the circumstances surrounding the crash.

The helicopter was severely damaged in the impact and subsequent fire, while emergency crews worked to extinguish the flames and secure the crash site.

NBC and Telemundo expressed condolences following the deaths. Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass also acknowledged the loss of life, while California Governor Gavin Newsom praised emergency responders who rushed to the scene.

The investigation is expected to examine the helicopter's flight path, mechanical condition, weather and operating conditions, as well as the circumstances surrounding its coverage of the nearby traffic collision. No cause has yet been established. (ILKHA)