Horrific:
Our affiliate @KING5Seattle is reporting a news helicopter has crashed near the Space Needle http://t.co/6d7b735xCo pic.twitter.com/MywJBNulZl
— KTVB.COM (@KTVB) March 18, 2014
We heard the helicopter crash right outside our newsroom. At least 2 cars involved @komonews pic.twitter.com/06XFi4ArCy
— Kelly Koopmans (@KellyKOMO4) March 18, 2014
Wreckage of news chopper, 2 cars still exploding right now @komonews pic.twitter.com/YM9vVhoGOa
— Kelly Koopmans (@KellyKOMO4) March 18, 2014
Flames now out, told by a witness one person on fire when crawled out of a cars. 1 responders working on that person pic.twitter.com/zHeFzV0qzJ
— Kelly Koopmans (@KellyKOMO4) March 18, 2014
Chopper tail visible amid the smoke & car wreckage pic.twitter.com/uZ57DibreU
— Kelly Koopmans (@KellyKOMO4) March 18, 2014
Seeing 3 cars involved here where the chopper crashed. Only tail and scattered pieces of chopper remain #seattle pic.twitter.com/hebLJfSxDB
— Kelly Koopmans (@KellyKOMO4) March 18, 2014
UPDATE: @komonews helicopter has crashed in downtown Seattle. More details coming pic.twitter.com/49BfFmhxsq
— NewsBreaker (@NewsBreaker) March 18, 2014
A chopper has crashed near the Space needle in Seattle …#ConservativeVW #tcot pic.twitter.com/0bQgU0jcAP
— Villi Wilson❌ (@Conservative_VW) March 18, 2014
News helicopter crashes, burns beside Space Needle – http://t.co/TvU5Dy9aLt pic.twitter.com/ptZhAUje6u
— KOMO News (@komonews) March 18, 2014
#BREAKING: A news helicopter crashed on top of vehicles near the #Seattle Space Needle – http://t.co/0xbMGdF246 pic.twitter.com/gTcxdexDHm
— News92FM (@News92FM) March 18, 2014
Recommended
DEVELOPING story here: Seattle news helicopter crashes near Space Needle http://t.co/tUiJpkKnxT pic.twitter.com/lNL7J9Hruy
— CTV News (@CTVNews) March 18, 2014
Medics transporting an approx 37 yo male to HMC in critical condition self extricated from car pic.twitter.com/hhVAX0qmbs
— Seattle Fire Dept. (@SeattleFire) March 18, 2014
The helicopter was a KOMO news chopper:
Wreckage of news chopper, 2 cars still exploding right now @komonews pic.twitter.com/YM9vVhoGOa
— Kelly Koopmans (@KellyKOMO4) March 18, 2014
Prayers. RT @AP BREAKING: KOMO-TV says its news helicopter has crashed near Seattle Space Needle; Casualties reported.
— Michelle Malkin (@michellemalkin) March 18, 2014
We will continue to monitor this situation and update with further developments.
Editor’s note: This post has been updated with additional tweets and also amended with confirmation that the crashed helicopter was a news chopper.
***
Update:
According to the Seattle Fire Department’s Twitter feed, at least two people were killed:
2 DOAs at helicopter crash scene near space needle. pic.twitter.com/JwhBs2nYUF
— Seattle Fire Dept. (@SeattleFire) March 18, 2014
A news helicopter has crashed in Seattle, near the Space Needle. Two have died from this: http://t.co/flYHNW0NnJ pic.twitter.com/79XEuTmM9e
— FOX 11 Los Angeles (@FOXLA) March 18, 2014
Heart wrenching news! RT @SeattleFire: 2 DOAs at helicopter crash scene near space needle. pic.twitter.com/Zh99H5c1gC
— Vicky Evans (@VickyEvansTV) March 18, 2014
https://twitter.com/PoulsboPDChief/status/445942619546198016
Just awful.
Heartbreaking watching @komonews team report on their own news helicopter crashing just feet from the station pic.twitter.com/HpdZ8NHIBZ
— Cailyn Bradley (@CailynBradley) March 18, 2014
***
Update:
More from KOMO reporter Kelly Koopmans:
To my friends wondering, I'm alright. Was across the street in the newsroom, heard, saw it all, but okay.
— Kelly Koopmans (@KellyKOMO4) March 18, 2014
This can give u a lay of the land. Crash at white tent, Space Needle pkg lot in foreground, @komonews at the right pic.twitter.com/JcKgqDbXqX
— Kelly Koopmans (@KellyKOMO4) March 18, 2014
Current scene, half of red car demolished, remnants of chopper on top, EMP in background pic.twitter.com/xI6My853uN
— Kelly Koopmans (@KellyKOMO4) March 18, 2014
PIO: 2 ppl inside chopper dead, 1 37 yo man transported life threatening injuries, NTSB will investigate, don't know chain of events yet
— Kelly Koopmans (@KellyKOMO4) March 18, 2014
PIO: fuel from both cars and chopper was spilling down the street, line of fire stretched down Broad St about a block.
— Kelly Koopmans (@KellyKOMO4) March 18, 2014
PIO: "TV news is a family business… Our hearts go out to all their coworker" #choppercrash #seattle
— Kelly Koopmans (@KellyKOMO4) March 18, 2014
Seattle Fire: All 3 cars were on fire, FAA & NTSB will investigate.
— Kelly Koopmans (@KellyKOMO4) March 18, 2014
Seattle Fire: all that's left of chopper is tail & burnt metal shell of the chopper.
— Kelly Koopmans (@KellyKOMO4) March 18, 2014
***
Update:
One of the victims was KOMO camera operator Bill Strothman:
So many fond memories Bill Strothman. So many adventures. Our hearts break more than words can express. pic.twitter.com/0JJLEnCGXU
— Connie Thompson (@ConnieKOMO) March 18, 2014
We're sharing the life & love of Bill Strothman #liveonkomo. He was today's camera operator in Air 4: pic.twitter.com/e8XBnAwWQH
— KOMO News (@komonews) March 18, 2014
One of things I loved abt Bill Strothman is legacy he leaves behind at KOMO. His son is also a photog here. #family pic.twitter.com/0KQi9ADanb
— Lindsay Cohen (@lindsaycohen) March 18, 2014
Bill Strothman, the KOMO videographer killed in helicopter crash, won 13 Emmy awards over his career.
— Mike Baker (@ByMikeBaker) March 18, 2014
Absolutely heartbreaking. Thoughts and prayers to his family.