Los Angeles News Helicopter Crash Kills Three While Covering Breaking News in Chatsworth

The Los Angeles news helicopter crash that killed three people has sent shockwaves through the city’s journalism community after an aircraft providing aerial coverage for NBC4 and Telemundo 52 went down in Chatsworth.

The helicopter crashed shortly before 7 p.m. on September 15 in a business parking lot in the San Fernando Valley community. The aircraft, known as NewsChopper4 and operated by Angel City Air, was covering an earlier deadly Metro bus collision when it crashed.

Two members of the helicopter crew — aerial reporter Eliana Moreno and pilot George Marciniw — were killed. A third person on the ground, identified by the Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner as 29-year-old Edy Fernando Gutiérrez Mejia, also died.

The tragedy has renewed attention on the risks faced by television crews who use helicopters to provide live coverage of breaking news.

What Happened in the Los Angeles News Helicopter Crash?

The helicopter was flying over Chatsworth while covering a separate crash involving a Metro bus and an SUV.

That earlier collision, reported around 5 p.m., had already killed two people and injured several others. NewsChopper4 launched from a nearby airport at approximately 5:20 p.m. to provide aerial coverage. Its signal was lost shortly before 7 p.m.

The helicopter subsequently crashed into a parking lot near a storage business.

The impact caused a fire and damaged several vehicles and storage containers in the area. Firefighters responded to the scene, with officials reporting that two additional people were hospitalized after the helicopter accident.

The exact cause of the crash remains under investigation.

NBC4 Reporter Eliana Moreno Among the Victims

Eliana Moreno was a familiar voice to viewers of NBC4 and Telemundo 52.

She regularly provided aerial reports from NewsChopper4, covering police pursuits, wildfires, severe weather and other breaking news across Southern California. She also shared aerial views of the region’s mountains, coastline and urban landscape.

Moreno was an Orange County native and graduated from Chapman University in 2010 with degrees in broadcast journalism and political science.

Her death prompted an outpouring of tributes from colleagues, viewers and the university community.

NBC4 and Telemundo 52 described themselves as deeply saddened by the loss and extended condolences to the victims’ families, friends and colleagues.

Pilot George Marciniw Also Killed

Pilot George Marciniw was the second member of the NewsChopper4 crew killed in the crash.

Marciniw grew up in Southern California and graduated from Burbank High School in 1974. He had extensive aviation experience and also worked as a flight instructor.

Moreno and Marciniw had been flying together since 2023 and frequently worked as a team during evening news coverage.

Colleagues remembered their partnership as an important part of NBC4’s aerial reporting operation.

Third Victim Identified

The third person killed was not aboard the helicopter.

Authorities identified him as Edy Fernando Gutiérrez Mejia, a 29-year-old visitor from Cuilapa, Guatemala. He was on the ground when the helicopter crashed.

According to NBC Los Angeles, Mejia had reportedly been in the Los Angeles area for only two days when the tragedy occurred.

His death means the crash claimed lives both inside the aircraft and on the ground.

NTSB Begins Investigation

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has opened an investigation into the crash.

Investigators arrived at the site on September 16 and began examining the wreckage and surrounding area. The aircraft involved was identified as a Eurocopter AS 350 B2 operated by Angel City Air.

Investigators are also examining video recorded during the helicopter’s live news coverage.

NTSB investigator-in-charge Fabian Salazar said the video could be an important piece of evidence because it captured sounds and cockpit advisories shortly before the aircraft went down. Investigators want an original copy for detailed analysis.

The agency has also asked witnesses who recorded the crash or its final moments to provide video.

A preliminary report is expected within approximately 30 days, while a complete investigation could take considerably longer.

Witnesses Describe the Final Moments

People near the crash site reported seeing the helicopter behaving unusually shortly before it went down.

One witness told NBC4 that the aircraft appeared to be swaying and gradually losing altitude. The helicopter then disappeared from view behind buildings before a large cloud of smoke and fire became visible.

The witness accounts are being treated as part of the broader investigation, while officials have not yet established a definitive cause.

NTSB investigators will ultimately examine the aircraft, maintenance records, flight information, weather conditions, operational factors and available video and audio evidence.

Los Angeles and the History of Aerial News Coverage

The crash carries particular significance for Los Angeles because helicopters have been an important part of the city’s television news culture for decades.

Los Angeles is widely associated with aerial breaking-news coverage, particularly because of its sprawling geography, extensive freeway system and frequent high-speed police pursuits.

Television helicopters have allowed stations to provide live views of wildfires, traffic incidents, pursuits, natural disasters and other breaking events that can be difficult to capture from the ground.

NewsChopper4 was part of that long-standing tradition, regularly giving Southern California viewers an aerial perspective of major events.

A Similar Tragedy Nearly 50 Years Ago

The Chatsworth crash also recalled another fatal Los Angeles television helicopter accident.

Nearly 50 years earlier, KNBC’s “Telecopter” reporter Francis Gary Powers and cameraman George Spears were killed in a helicopter crash in Encino while covering brush fires. Their aircraft went down near the Sepulveda Dam.

The comparison highlights the longstanding risks associated with aerial journalism.

Although helicopter technology and newsroom operations have evolved significantly since then, television crews continue to rely on aircraft in situations where rapidly changing conditions can make aerial reporting challenging.

Tributes for the NewsChopper4 Team

Following the Chatsworth crash, viewers and colleagues began leaving flowers, balloons and other tributes outside NBC4 and Telemundo 52 facilities.

Memorials were also placed near the crash site and at Whiteman Airport in Pacoima, where the helicopter was based.

The response reflected Moreno and Marciniw’s visibility among Southern California viewers, particularly those who regularly watched their aerial coverage during breaking news events.

For many viewers, NewsChopper4 was more than an aircraft. It was a familiar part of local television coverage.

Impact on Local Journalism

The Los Angeles news helicopter crash has also highlighted the risks associated with live aerial journalism.

News crews operating helicopters can be called to scenes involving fires, police activity, major traffic collisions and other rapidly developing emergencies. Their ability to reach a location quickly can provide valuable information to viewers, but the work also involves aviation risks.

The NTSB investigation will be important in determining what happened to NewsChopper4 and whether any safety recommendations emerge from the findings.

Until investigators complete their work, officials have not publicly established the cause of the crash.

Looking Ahead

The Los Angeles news helicopter crash has left three people dead and deeply affected the NBC4 and Telemundo 52 newsrooms. Reporter Eliana Moreno, pilot George Marciniw and ground victim Edy Fernando Gutiérrez Mejia were killed in the September 15 crash in Chatsworth.

The NTSB is now examining the helicopter, available video and audio recordings, witness accounts and other evidence to determine what led to the accident.

For Los Angeles television viewers, the tragedy is also a reminder of the human cost behind the aerial images that have become a defining part of the city’s breaking-news coverage.

FAQs

1. What happened in the Los Angeles news helicopter crash?
A NewsChopper4 helicopter providing aerial coverage for NBC4 and Telemundo 52 crashed in Chatsworth on September 15, 2026.

2. How many people died in the helicopter crash?
Three people died: reporter Eliana Moreno, pilot George Marciniw and a person on the ground.

3. Who was Eliana Moreno?
Eliana Moreno was an aerial reporter who worked with NBC4 and Telemundo 52 and regularly covered breaking news across Southern California.

4. Who was the pilot George Marciniw?
George Marciniw was the pilot of NewsChopper4 and an experienced Southern California pilot who also worked as a flight instructor.

5. Who was the third victim?
The third victim was identified as 29-year-old Edy Fernando Gutiérrez Mejia, who was on the ground when the helicopter crashed.

6. What helicopter was involved?
The NTSB identified the aircraft as a Eurocopter AS 350 B2 operated by Angel City Air.

7. What was the helicopter covering before it crashed?
The crew was providing aerial coverage of a deadly Metro bus and SUV collision in Chatsworth.

8. Is the cause of the helicopter crash known?
No. The cause remains under investigation by the NTSB.

9. Is there video of the crash?
Video from the helicopter’s live news coverage captured important audio and visual information before the crash and is being examined by investigators.

10. Why are helicopters important to Los Angeles news coverage?
Los Angeles television stations have used helicopters for decades to provide live aerial coverage of wildfires, police pursuits, traffic incidents and other breaking events across the region.