Entertainment

Oscar-Covering Chopper Crashes

By CBSNews.com staff CBSNews.com staff

March 27, 2000 / 7:45 AM EST / CBS

The biggest drama at the Academy Awards occurred outside the Shrine Auditorium, after the ceremony.

A television helicopter left its Oscar hovering spot and crashed in a ball of fire Sunday night, injuring a pilot and cameraman.

The crash occurred just after 10 p.m. PT in a helicopter landing area at Van Nuys Airport, about 15 miles northwest of the Shrine Auditorium, where the Academy Awards had finished about 30 minutes before.

Steve Howell, aboard KTLA-TV's helicopter, said the KTTV helicopter pilot reported hydraulic problems as it arrived near the Shrine and the pilot decided to head toward the Van Nuys Airport under escort by KCAL-TV's helicopter.

The helicopter crashed shortly after it made its distress call.

The pilot, a 28-year-old woman, and the photographer, a 40-year-old man, were taken to Northridge Medical Center, said city fire spokesman Brian Humphrey. The pilot was seriously hurt with a broken wrist, broken leg, possibly fractured pelvis and possible concussion. The photographer had a possible broken leg and cuts to his face, Humphrey said.

CBS Radio News reported both were in stable condition, conscious and talking Monday morning.

The helicopter belonged to KTTV-TV in Los Angeles, a Fox affiliate. The names of the victims were not immediately released.

KTTV anchorwoman Susan Hirasuna's voice nearly broke with emotion Sunday night as she began to report a news story after word of the crash. KTTV closed its 10 p.m. newscast with a request for prayers for the two on the aircraft.