HOUSTON HELICOPTER CRASH DETAILS! The accident with a private R-44 aircraft carrying 4 people occurred around 8 p.m.
Following their first post, the department shared another. This one included images showing the wreck and damage and had a caption that explained, “The FAA will investigate. Media staging behind the Stellar Bank at Navigation and Ennis.”
Houston Mayor John Whitmire and authorities, who are investigating what caused the accident, also updated the public on the matter during a late-night conference.
According to Whitmire, Station 17 of the Houston Fire Department (HFD) had been just down the street from where the helicopter crashed and arrived at the scene minutes after hearing the explosion.
Houston Mayor John Whitmire speaking at the Houston Hispanic Chamber Of Commerce Annual Luncheon & Business Expo in Houston, Texas on April 12, 2024 | Source: Getty Images
Addressing the public, Whitmire expressed, “This is a tragic event tonight, it’s a tragic loss of life.” Houston Police Chief Noe Diaz contextualized the crash, explaining how the helicopter had been traveling from Ellington Field and was en route to an unknown destination when the accident ensued.
Houston Mayor John Whitmire speaking about the accident with Houston authorities, posted on October 21, 2024 | Source: YouTube/FOX 26 Houston
After confirming that first responders sprung into action and made sure that Houston residents were “secure and safe,” Whitmire revealed, “We have a terrible accident scene. Multiple fatalities […] I’m going to be very cautious in my description of facts and details, but what I want to emphasize is that the area is secure.”