2 Seriously Hurt in Crash of Helicopter Covering Oscars
Two people were seriously injured when a KTTV Channel 11 helicopter covering the Academy Awards crashed and burst into flames at Van Nuys Airport, fire officials said.
The helicopter pilot for Channel 11 news reported mechanical difficulties moments before the crash in the southeast corner of the airport, Los Angeles Fire Department spokesman Brian Humphrey said.
A television helicopter pilot from a competing station who overheard emergency radio transmissions from the KTTV helicopter said the craft was headed for the Shrine Auditorium just after 10 p.m. when the pilot reported a loss of hydraulic power.
The helicopter was attempting to return to the airport when it went down, bursting into flames upon impact with the runway. Firefighters arriving at the scene sprayed foam on the aircraft to suppress the flames.
Humphrey said the helicopter’s female pilot suffered multiple injuries and the camera operator, identified by fellow television reporters as Phil Arno, suffered facial cuts and a broken leg.
The two were taken to Northridge Hospital for treatment, Humphrey said.
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