A tourist helicopter has crashed in a city centre killing three people on board.
It took place as football fans were flocking to a nearby stadium for a top-flight league match, causing traffic chaos.
After the chopper came down on a warehouse for disused buses, a column of thick black smoke was seen extending high into the sky.
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Witnesses said the helicopter had flown over the area for several minutes before crashing on the building and sparking a huge blaze.
One local said: “The pilot managed to avoid a market and a housing estate.”
The accident took place at around 5pm yesterday (14 April).
The helicopter plunged from the sky near Ciudad Universitaria, the main campus of the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) in Mexico City.
Elements of the Mexico City Police, Civil Protection, Fire Department, and the National Guard arrived to cordon off the area and deal with the fire.
The authorities confirmed that three people on board the privately-owned chopper had been killed.
The pilot has been named as Armando Cervantes while the authorities have yet to release the identities of the other victims.
As well as the burning helicopter wreckage, at least one decommissioned bus also caught ablaze.
Supporters of the top-flight football team Club Universidad Nacional – better known by their nickname Pumas – were making their way to the stadium at the time.
The home side was taking on Liga MX rivals Club León.
The tragedy sparked traffic chaos that isn’t expected to be cleared until later today (15 April).
Commuters and parents driving their children to school have been advised to take alternative routes, as reported by Need to Know.
According to reports, the chopper was a 206B-3 JetRanger III with the registration XB-PIP.
It was used to carry out tours over Mexico City.
An investigation into the cause of the crash is ongoing.
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