3 Killed In Reality Show Crash After Helicopter For Discovery Channel Program Goes Down
Three people died on Feb. 10 in a helicopter crash that occurred before dawn in northern Los Angeles County, Calif., while attempting to film a new reality show for the Discovery Channel.
The helicopter was said to have crashed at roughly 3:40 a.m. Pacific Time at the well-known filming location of Polsa Rosa Ranch in Acton, Los Angeles County dispatcher Robert Diaz said to Yahoo!. All three individuals on board the aircraft reportedly died. Their names have yet to be released.
The show, which was listed on a filming permit as an untitled military-theme TV program, hasn't been aired or announced by Discovery, stated channel spokesperson Laurie Goldberg.
"A production company was shooting a show for Discovery Channel when this tragic accident occurred. We are all co-operating fully with authorities. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the families," she said.
Eyeworks USA, the program's production company mostly know for creating NBC's The Biggest Loser, released a statement expressing their condolences to the families of the victims and said they were also cooperating with authorities.
The company received approval to use a helicopter for a reality TV show filming at the ranch from Feb. 9 in the afternoon until the morning of Feb. 10, said Philip Sokoloski, a FilmLA spokesperson who processes filming permits for location shootings in the Los Angeles area. Records also indicated that Crossbow Helicopters obtained approval to participate in filming from the Federal Aviation Administration.
"We wouldn't have referenced helicopter activity if we didn't already have pre-approval from the FAA," Sokoloski stated.
The cause of the crash still remains unclear, according to Federal Aviation spokesperson Allen Kenitzer. TV footage revealed the helicopter wreckage in a canyon area close to Soledad Canyon Road.
The news report noted that Polsa Rosa is a "movie ranch" where film companies use a variety of terrains along with two air strips. Internet Movie Database noted that the respective location was used in Windtalkers and Red Dawn.
