Helicopter Crashes at Raytheon in El Segundo

(Updated at 1:09 p.m.): 

A helicopter crash around 10 a.m. on the Raytheon campus in El Segundo has injured the pilot, who was found about 100 yards from the crash, Manhattan Beach Battalion Chief Frank Chiella told Patch. He was transported to a trauma center and is expected to survive, El Segundo Fire Chief Kevin Smith told reporters at a press conference.

Chiella said a lift helicopter had been performing work on a building and on its last lift with equipment, it "had trouble getting the unit off the roof." Lift helicopters perform work on air conditioning units, though Cheilla couldn't confirm exactly what this lift helicopter was lifting.

The copter crashed next to a two-story office building that was unoccupied, said Chiella. The building is in a gated complex south of El Segundo Boulevard and east of Sepulveda Boulevard, entered from a gate on Continental.

The pilot got himself out and the fire from the crash spread to the first and second floors of the office building.

Manhattan Beach personnel, who were the the "first attack line into the interior of the building on the first floor," were at the scene for about 90 minutes, Chiella said.

Units from Redondo Beach, Hermosa Beach, Torrance and Los Angeles County responded.

The MB contingent was one engine, a paramedic rescue unit and ambulance. They are no longer at the scene.