Houston CBS affiliate KHOU is using the fatal crash of the KOMO news helicopter in Seattle to remind viewers of similar accidents in the Houston market.
Houston has had its own deadly history of news helicopter crashes. In 2008, a pilot and photographer were killed when KTRK’s chopper crashed in a wooded area of Montgomery County.it was caused by mechanical failure.
In 2000, weather contributed to the crash of FOX 26’s helicopter crash in River oaks, killing the pilot.
AdvertisementIn 2001, KHOU’s Air 11 broke apart after hydraulic problems forced a hard landing on top of KHOU’s Studios. There were no serious injuries.
Bob Spradlin, former pilot for the station’s “Air 11,” told the station the challenge for news pilots is to stay focused, “You may have five people trying to tell you what to do at the same time,” said Spradlin. “So it’s a little rough at times trying to sort out the messages.”