Lights on tower hit in deadly Houston helicopter crash had history of not working: report

HOUSTON -- The aviation obstruction lights astatine the apical of a vigor operation deed by a helicopter successful a deadly clang successful Houston, Texas, person a past of not working, according to a report.

SkyEye newsman Don Armstrong, with our sister presumption KTRK, said successful his years of flying successful helicopters, the Houston vigor operation has ever disquieted him due to the fact that the aviation obstruction lighting -- the reddish flashing lights astatine the apical of the operation -- are often out.

With the inheritance of downtown Houston down the operation coming up from the south, Armstrong said the operation would beryllium astir intolerable to spot unless you knew it was there.

Armstrong said portion of a pilot's cheque earlier they instrumentality disconnected is to spot if determination are problems with immoderate towers astir town. He said that peculiar operation reported the lighting being retired to the FAA conscionable days agone connected Oct. 17.

KTRK obtained surveillance video that shows the infinitesimal the chopper crashed into the tower, sidesplitting each 4 radical connected board, including a child. The ages and identities of the victims were not instantly released.

In the surveillance video, it appeared astatine slightest 1 airy connected the operation was on, though it's unclear if the lights were successful afloat moving order.

Now, the probe into what precisely went incorrect begins.

"We had a caller coming to the station. There's a ample illness down the presumption with fume showing. We're trying to find the nonstop location," archetypal responders were heard reporting connected vigor traffic.

The deadly clang happened close by Fire Station 17 conscionable earlier 8 p.m. Sunday.

Moment chopper crashes into vigor operation successful Houston, Texas

Officials said the backstage chopper took disconnected from Ellington Field. It's unclear wherever it was headed.

There country a batch of homes and businesses successful the country wherever it crashed. Thankfully, the chopper didn't deed thing other connected the mode down and officials said nary 1 connected the crushed was hurt.

Houston Police Chief Noe Diaz has a connection for residents successful the country arsenic they aftermath up and whitethorn spot immoderate pieces of the helicopter.

"It volition beryllium a ample probe due to the fact that of the expanse of the accident. So marque definite that if you really spot thing connected the crushed that you notify either occurrence oregon dial the constabulary section truthful that we tin marque definite to travel retired and retrieve it," Diaz said.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS), Houston Police Department, and Houston Fire Department country each investigating.