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Two people have died and another is critically injured after a helicopter crashed in Seattle near the city's iconic Space Needle building.

The aircraft appears to have landed by a number of cars in a city centre street and burst into flames.

Reports online claim the helicopter belonged to US news channel KOMO-TV.

ABC News, an affiliate of KOMO, said the chopper crashed "moments after take off".

Seattle Fire Department said two people were dead on arrival.

A 37-year-old man had managed to free himself from the wreckage and has been taken to hospital in a critical condition.

Police said they have closed several streets and investigations into what caused the crash are ongoing.