UPDATED: Six injuries reported in collision between two Pasadena police helicopters

ALTADENA — A collision between two Pasadena police helicopters at the department’s heliport in Altadena Saturday left six officers with minor injuries Saturday, authorities said.
The collision was reported about 4 p.m. at the Pasadena Police Department’s heliport, 2175 Yucca Lane in Altadena.
A total of six officers were injured, Pasadena Fire Department spokeswoman Lisa Derderian said.
Both involved helicopters were OH-58s and each contained a pilot and an observer, Pasadena police Lt. Phlunte Riddle said.
All four occupants of the helicopters were taken to a hospital, along with one officers who was injured while working on the ground, Riddle said. Another ground-based officer suffered a minor cut and was treated at the scene.
The crash took place just after the end of an anticipated football game at the Rose Bowl between UCLA and USC.
One of the involved helicopters had been monitoring the football game, while the other was performing patrol operations, according to Riddle.
The circumstances of how the aircraft collided remained under investigation, she added.
“Until we have an opportunity to interview the pilots … it’s speculative to say who was coming and who was going,” Riddle said.
The helicopters were not operational following the crash.
“They appear to have major damage,” Riddle said, adding that the full extent would not be known until the craft could be examined by an expert.
The Pasadena Police Department still has four flight-worthy helicopters, and the two grounded helicopters will not affect police helicopter service to Pasadena police, or any of the neighboring law enforcement agencies who also make use of Pasadena’s police helicopters.

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