The Seattle Fire Department said in addition to the fatalities, a 37-year-old man who managed to free himself from a car at the accident scene was taken to Harborview Medical Center in critical condition. No other details were immediately available.
The station says the copter was apparently lifting off from its rooftop Tuesday morning when it possibly hit the side of the building and went down, hitting several vehicles on Broad Street.
The copter and cars exploded in flames.
Plumes of black smoke rose from the crash scene as rescue vehicles converged on the area.
Get updates from local media organizations covering the story:
KOMO: 2 Killed IN KOMO News Helicopter Crashes Beside Space Needle
KPLU: News Helicopter Crashes Near Space Needle, Killing Two People And Injuring Another
KOUW: Fatal News Helicopter Crash At Seattle Center
The Seattle Times: 2 Die In News Helicopter Crash Near Space Needle
8:30 A.M.
A news helicopter reportedly used by KOMO-TV crashed near the Seattle Space Needle early Monday.
The station says the copter was apparently coming in for a landing on its rooftop Tuesday morning when it possibly hit the side of the building and went down, hitting several vehicles on Broad Street.
The copter and cars exploded in flames and casualties were reported.
People in the area reported seeing a huge cloud of smoke as firefighters and police responded.
2 DOAs at helicopter crash scene near space needle. pic.twitter.com/JwhBs2nYUF
— Seattle Fire Dept (@SeattleFire) 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
Helicopter crash and three cars fires near space needle. pic.twitter.com/5ACUKB2wge
— Seattle Fire Dept (@SeattleFire) March 18, 2014
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