4 aboard helicopter killed as it crashes into Houston radio tower

HOUSTON, Texas: A helicopter crashed into a radio tower in Houston and burst into flames, killing four of its passengers, officials said.

Mayor John Whitmire said at a news conference that the helicopter took off from Ellington Field, about 15 miles away, and went down just before 8 p.m. on October 20 in a neighborhood east of downtown after. He did not know where the helicopter was headed.

No one on the ground was injured, and no nearby homes were damaged, though some vehicles were.

Whitmire said firefighters at a nearby station heard the crash and responded. While the tower and helicopter were destroyed, some area residents lost power.

The National Transportation Safety Board said in a statement that it is investigating the crash of the Robinson R44 II helicopter.

The four passengers included a child, but their identities and ages have not yet been released.

Police and fire officials have urged residents near the crash site to call 911 if they find anything on their property that could help in the investigation.

NTSB investigators collected evidence and the Federal Aviation Administration is also investigating.