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Witnesses said the helicopter crashed into a crane atop one of Europe's tallest residential towers on the south bank of the River Thames and hurtled to the ground. Burning aviation fuel spilled along a street and British news reports spoke of cars on fire and people screaming. Two people escaped the crash with injuries.

Fire engines, ambulances and dozens of firefighters converged on the scene of the crash, which officials depicted as an accident unrelated to the nearby spy agency headquarters. Firefighters who tackled the blaze rescued a man from a burning car, the London Fire Brigade said.

The helicopter was reportedly flying north from London's Gatwick Airport to the suburb of Elstree, the location of several British film studios, with two passengers on board, Britain's Press Association news agency reported.

Helicopters are not unusual over London. "We have rules and there are procedures in place for helicopter flight," a defense expert, Paul Beaver, told Press Association. "It's much more challenging in reduced visibility. It's very much up to the pilot to fly the right route and do the right things."