Two people aboard a news helicopter were killed when it crashed in central Seattle at the foot of the landmark Space Needle, fire officials have said.

 

一架新闻直升机在西亚图中部地标建筑太空针塔脚下坠毁，机上两人遇难。

Broadcaster KOMO said the helicopter was trying to take off from its roof when it crashed

 

The helicopter belonging to broadcaster KOMO went down at about 07:52 local time.

 

A man managed to free himself from a car destroyed in the accident, after suffering burns over 50% of his body, a fire department spokesman said.

 

KOMO said the helicopter was trying to take off when it crashed.

 

The broadcaster identified the deceased as photographer Bill Strothman and Gary Pfitzner, both contract workers.

 

"We mourn the loss of a couple of our co-workers today," KOMO presenter Dan Lewis said on the air. "It's so difficult for us to look at this scene, of the wreckage down there."

 

The injured man remains in hospital in critical condition.

 

"At times like this we are reminded that the media, like many of us, are also public servants," Seattle Mayor Ed Murray said at a Tuesday news conference.

 

"On behalf of Seattle I want to express my deepest consolations to families of both the victims and all their colleagues at KOMO."

 

Three vehicles on the street caught fire as the helicopter crashed right outside KOMO's studios. 

 

A witness told KOMO the engine of the helicopter "sounded extra heavy" as it started up, and he heard an explosion seconds later.

 

Firefighters arrived to find a huge plume of thick black smoke, said fire department spokesman Kyle Moore.

 

Aviation fuel leaked from the wreckage and caught fire, helping firefighters' efforts to keep it from contaminating the city's sewer system.

 

Mr Moore said investigators had no indication the helicopter struck a building.