I was on set filming Battlestar Galactica when one someone from the props department reported the news of two helicopters colliding in Phoenix. The two helicopters belonged to local news stations and were covering an ongoing police pursuit of a suspected stolen vehicle. Details are sketchy right now, but it is believed that the four occupants of the helicopters are dead. Luckily, the helicopters crashed into a relatively empty park and no casualties have been reported on the ground.
I’m not too sure why I was affected by this news story on set, as I hear about senseless deaths and accidents every day on the news. The casualties in Iraq and Afghanistan climb every day. I suppose it’s because it seemed like such an unlikely occurrence. At any rate, I found the following videos and decided to post them.
The first video is from the KNXV-TV news helicopter as they are reporting the police pursuit live as it was broadcast on television. The camera is pointed downwards so the collision was not observed by viewers.
The second, more disturbing, video is from a third helicopter that caught the collision and subsequent crash on film. you can hear the distressed reporter as he is at a loss for words to try and explain what just happened.
My condolences to the friends and family of those lossed.
Posted on July 27th, 2007 by Leo
Filed under: Lucid Thoughts
Oh my gosh… I just saw the videos… I heard about it on the news, but I didn’t see those clips.
The first video is just as disturbing– when just before the video feed suddenly cut off, you can hear the reporter’s panicked last words.
This is horrible… This is really a sad freak accident.
I think we’re just desensitized about the death toll in the Middle East… Also, it’s far from home and we don’t see it taking part–
But these people that died– they’re just civilians in the course of doing their jobs– and this kind of job normally wouldn’t be taken as dangerous– but then this freak accident happens.
I think THAT’S why it affects you on a deeper level.
I couldn’t believe this when I saw it. Frikken amazing!
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That is some pretty crazy $hit man…especially to have it all on video…
Wow… im surprised those videos even surfaced. Usually something like that is never shown… my only guess is the first one was live… the 2nd not so sure.
Either way, that is an absolute tragedy and like you, I feel for the friends and family of those lost
Pretty weird accident.
Any updates on what caused the crash?
whoa thats really crazy. Never seen anything like this b4
This is the first footage that I’ve seen of the accident and you do feel for the friends and family of those people. In the 2nd video, I’m sure that was very difficult as I imagine that guy knew the other reporters and/or helicopter pilots and he witnessed them crash.
Yeah, it’s all pretty awful. I have yet to hear any more info as to what really happened (apart from the obvious).
Wow just like everyone said crazy its all on video, my heart goes out to the families of the people who lost their life
I really like your blog. Great tat photo of you as a baby
Good luck with the stunt acting. You’ve got a great look!
[...] Leo Chiang has a scary video of two helicopters crashing into eachother mid-flight. Check out his post here. [...]
That totally does suck. The first video shows the end moment. Very terrible…
As they say, fact is sometimes stranger than fiction.
All this car chasing business really puts a lot of people at risk without any good reason except for the entertainment value the slackers get while everyone else is at work.