Three people are dead after a news helicopter went down Tuesday evening in Los Angeles' Chatsworth neighborhood, where it had been providing live coverage of a deadly Metro bus collision. The crash occurred just before 7 p.m. local time, as the aircraft, operated by Angel City Air for NBC4 and Telemundo 52, came down between two commercial buildings on North Mason Avenue.
The two people aboard the aircraft were identified as reporter Eliana Moreno and pilot George Marciniw. A third victim, 29-year-old Edy Gutierrez Mejia, was on the ground in a nearby business parking lot and was struck by the wreckage, according to the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner's Office.
The helicopter was covering an earlier incident in which an SUV collided with a Metro bus, killing two bus passengers. The crash of the chopper added a second layer of tragedy to an already grim evening. Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass called it a “very, very, very tragic day in Los Angeles,” adding, “Our hearts are with those impacted by the bus collision and the helicopter crash, and with the entire community who lost members of their team while they were doing their job.”
Investigation Underway
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has launched a full investigation into the crash of the Eurocopter AS 350 B2. In a statement, the agency said it is “gathering information at this time.” Investigator-in-charge Fabian Salazar told reporters at a Wednesday press conference that crews would be on scene “pretty much all day” collecting evidence and witness statements.
Audio from the helicopter's final moments captured a warning tone, followed by Moreno asking Marciniw, “You can't pull up?” The camera feed then began shaking before the signal cut out. Witness Allyona Sevanesian told KTLA that her husband noticed the helicopter “swaying” just before it went down, followed by a cloud of smoke.
The crash sparked fires in nearby vehicles and storage containers, which fire crews extinguished. The NTSB has asked anyone with information to email [email protected]. A preliminary report is expected within 30 days, but a final determination of the cause could take up to 18 months.
Victims Mourned
Moreno and Marciniw, both Southern California natives, had been flying together since 2023. Marciniw, a 1974 graduate of Burbank High School, was an experienced pilot. Moreno earned a degree in broadcast journalism and political science from Chapman University in 2010. Their deaths have sent shockwaves through the local journalism community, with NBC4 and Telemundo 52 issuing a joint statement: “We are deeply saddened to share that a helicopter providing aerial news coverage for NBC4 and Telemundo 52 was involved in a fatal accident in Los Angeles on Tuesday evening. We extend our heartfelt condolences to the families, friends and colleagues of those who lost their lives.”
The crash is a stark reminder of the risks news crews take to bring live aerial coverage to viewers. While rare, such accidents have occurred before. In 2014, two journalists were killed in Seattle when their helicopter went down shortly after takeoff. In 2007, two news helicopters collided mid-air in Phoenix while covering a police chase, killing all four aboard. Those incidents underscore the dangers of this line of work.
As the NTSB continues its probe, the focus remains on the victims and their families. The loss of Moreno, Marciniw, and Mejia has left a community in mourning and raised questions about what caused the helicopter to fall from the sky.
