Chopper crashes into US townhouse, 1 dead: reports

A helicopter crashed into a townhouse complex in the US state of Virginia, leaving one person dead and the building ripped apart and damaged by fire, according to local media.

The incident occurred yesterday in Williamsburg, in the state's southeast and not far from Norfolk, which is home to a naval station which supports the US Navy's Atlantic Fleet.

The Daily Press newspaper quoted Virginia State Police as saying there was "one confirmed fatality within the residential structure." AFP could not immediately reach the police for comment.

WAVY-TV showed pictures of the low-rise residential complex, with much of its roof sheared off, exposing a gaping hole in the structure.

The station quoted a witness as saying he heard a "big explosion," while others reported a helicopter flying low before the incident.