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| Two dead in Seattle news helicopter crash near Space Needle | Two dead in Seattle news helicopter crash near Space Needle |
| (4 days later) | |
| Two people aboard a news helicopter were killed when it crashed in central Seattle at the foot of the landmark Space Needle, fire officials have said. | Two people aboard a news helicopter were killed when it crashed in central Seattle at the foot of the landmark Space Needle, fire officials have said. |
| The helicopter belonging to broadcaster KOMO went down at about 07:52 local time (14:52 GMT). | The helicopter belonging to broadcaster KOMO went down at about 07:52 local time (14:52 GMT). |
| A man managed to free himself from a car destroyed in the accident, after suffering burns over 50% of his body, a fire department spokesman said. | A man managed to free himself from a car destroyed in the accident, after suffering burns over 50% of his body, a fire department spokesman said. |
| KOMO said the helicopter was trying to take off when it crashed. | KOMO said the helicopter was trying to take off when it crashed. |
| The broadcaster identified the deceased as photographer Bill Strothman and Gary Pfitzner, both contract workers. | The broadcaster identified the deceased as photographer Bill Strothman and Gary Pfitzner, both contract workers. |
| "We mourn the loss of a couple of our co-workers today," KOMO presenter Dan Lewis said on the air. "It's so difficult for us to look at this scene, of the wreckage down there." | "We mourn the loss of a couple of our co-workers today," KOMO presenter Dan Lewis said on the air. "It's so difficult for us to look at this scene, of the wreckage down there." |
| The injured man remains in hospital in critical condition. | The injured man remains in hospital in critical condition. |
| "At times like this we are reminded that the media, like many of us, are also public servants," Seattle Mayor Ed Murray said at a Tuesday news conference. | "At times like this we are reminded that the media, like many of us, are also public servants," Seattle Mayor Ed Murray said at a Tuesday news conference. |
| "On behalf of Seattle I want to express my deepest consolations to families of both the victims and all their colleagues at KOMO." | "On behalf of Seattle I want to express my deepest consolations to families of both the victims and all their colleagues at KOMO." |
| Three vehicles on the street caught fire as the helicopter crashed right outside KOMO's studios. | Three vehicles on the street caught fire as the helicopter crashed right outside KOMO's studios. |
| A witness told KOMO the engine of the helicopter "sounded extra heavy" as it started up, and he heard an explosion seconds later. | A witness told KOMO the engine of the helicopter "sounded extra heavy" as it started up, and he heard an explosion seconds later. |
| Firefighters arrived to find a huge plume of thick black smoke, said fire department spokesman Kyle Moore. | Firefighters arrived to find a huge plume of thick black smoke, said fire department spokesman Kyle Moore. |
| Aviation fuel leaked from the wreckage and caught fire, helping firefighters' efforts to keep it from contaminating the city's sewer system. | Aviation fuel leaked from the wreckage and caught fire, helping firefighters' efforts to keep it from contaminating the city's sewer system. |
| Mr Moore said investigators had no indication the helicopter struck a building. | Mr Moore said investigators had no indication the helicopter struck a building. |
| Bo Bain, a construction worker nearby, told local broadcaster KING he saw the helicopter land briefly before returning to the air. | Bo Bain, a construction worker nearby, told local broadcaster KING he saw the helicopter land briefly before returning to the air. |
| "The sound of the helicopter changed kind of drastically and I looked and the helicopter was almost immediately pitched sideways and off balance and he kind of nose-dove over the trees and clipped the top of the trees and crashed on the other side of the street," Mr Bain said. | "The sound of the helicopter changed kind of drastically and I looked and the helicopter was almost immediately pitched sideways and off balance and he kind of nose-dove over the trees and clipped the top of the trees and crashed on the other side of the street," Mr Bain said. |
| Police have told Seattle drivers to stay out of the city centre. The National Safety Transportation Board has launched an investigation into the crash. | Police have told Seattle drivers to stay out of the city centre. The National Safety Transportation Board has launched an investigation into the crash. |