NBC Los Angeles helicopter crash: 5 things to know as tributes pour in for victims and eyewitness reacts

Following a fatal news helicopter accident in Los Angeles that resulted in three fatalities, tributes commenced arriving on Wednesday.

Eliana Moreno and George Marciniw lost their lives in a helicopter crash while on assignment in Los Angeles. (via REUTERS)The incident transpired shortly before 7 p.m. local time on Tuesday in the Chatsworth region of the San Fernando Valley, while the news aircraft was monitoring a vehicular traffic incident.

Moreno, a woman in her late thirties, was born in Orange County, situated south of Los Angeles.

She completed her undergraduate studies at Chapman University, located in the same region, earning a degree in broadcast journalism and political science in 2010, according to NBC Los Angeles.

Moreno became a member of Angel City Air's helicopter division that same year and has subsequently provided reporting services for numerous news organizations throughout Southern California.

An accomplished aerial correspondent with proficiency in Spanish-language reporting, Moreno maintained a notable presence on her official Instagram profile under the handle “Eli in the heli,” a reference to her distinctive professional work. Through this platform, she regularly posted photographs featuring her poultry and canine companions, as well as a video documenting her engagement to her fiancée, Robert Barrientos, which took place in 2025.

Barrientos has not yet provided a response to NBC News regarding their inquiry for commentary. The couple participated jointly in a half-marathon event during May, following which she posted: “I surpassed everything I thought I could ever do so let's see what I do next!”. Additionally, Moreno consistently disseminated several photographs depicting herself aboard the news helicopter while actively reporting on developing stories, with one accompanying caption stating: “I have the best job in the world.”

Esteemed NBC4 Los Angeles news anchor Colleen Williams, a veteran broadcaster, delivered a heartfelt tribute to her while on air Tuesday evening.

She addressed the audience, stating: “We are coming on the air with heavy hearts tonight because we lost valued friends and colleagues ... while on assignment tonight.”

“We are going to take a couple of minutes to think about that, process it,” she said in a shaky voice while getting emotional.

Lynette Romero, co-anchor of NBC L.A.'s morning newscast, expressed that the station was experiencing profound sorrow and extending their thoughts to the families of Moreno and Marciniw.

“They were both doing what they loved so much, and for me, that’s comfort in knowing how happy they were. They loved breaking news, and they loved being in News Chopper 4,” she stated on NBC’s “TODAY” show.

Marciniw was raised in Southern California and completed his secondary education at Burbank High School, graduating in 1974, as reported by NBC L.A.

Marciniw is understood to have accumulated more than three decades of aviation experience. He frequently distributed photographs of sunsets and regional landscapes obtained during his helicopter excursions, which he referred to as a “news cruise.”

He frequently acknowledged photographs on his official Instagram account by attributing them to his professional associate and collaborator, Moreno.

“And that’s a wrap for Friday night as the heavy fog rolls in with Eliana Moreno,” he noted, accompanying the post with an image of the helicopter. In a separate post, he shared a photograph of the Los Angeles Dodgers stadium brilliantly illuminated during nighttime, with the caption: “A few shots Eliana took as we flew over Dodgers after the game. “Go Dodgers.”

Many people on social media expressed their respects to Marciniw, highlighting his dedication to excellence and enthusiastic demeanor. “Fly high in the great beyond,” one said. “Total utter disbelief,” another stated.

Shweta Kukreti has over 8 years of experience in covering Indian and world politics. She joined the Hindustan Times in 2024 and is primarily assigned to the US desk. She currently works as Deputy Chief Content Producer and reports on a wide range of topics, including US politics, immigration issues (especially H-1B visa) and major global events. Shweta strongly emphasizes team operations, which encompasses monitoring news, delegating tasks, editing, developing comprehensive coverage strategies, and crafting engaging, and data-informed narratives. She received the Digi Star Award at the Hindustan Times within a year of joining for her broad coverage of US politics. In 2025, she earned both a promotion and a redesignation, a significant achievement recognising her contributions and the strong value she brings to the team. She has previously worked with the Indian Express, HTDS, ANI and Republic World. Seniors in all the media organisations recognised her work. Regarding education, she earned a BA (Hons.) in Political Science and a master's degree from Delhi University, and she pursued a PG Diploma in English Journalism from the Indian Institution of Mass Communication (IIMC). She also holds a diploma in Women's Empowerment and Development from IGNOU University and a French certification course from Alliance Française de Delhi. If not working, you can find her exploring the hills and engaging in adventurous activities in Rishikesh and Himachal Pradesh. She loves to play badminton, volleyball, and chess, and spend time with her friends and family. She also enjoys spiritual activities.Read More