Three Dead After NBC Helicopter Crashes Covering Fatal Bus Accident in LA

Three people were killed when a television news helicopter covering a fatal bus collision crashed and burst into flames in Los Angeles’ San Fernando Valley on Tuesday evening.

The aircraft was NBC4’s NewsChopper4, operated by Angel City Air for NBC4 Los Angeles and Telemundo 52. Two of those killed were aboard the helicopter, while the third was on the ground, according to reports. Two other people was taken to a hospital.

NBC4 Los Angeles later identified the victims on board the helicopter as Angel City Air employees Eliana Moreno and pilot George Marciniw, seen below.

Eliana Moreno and George Marciniw. SOURCE: George Marciniw, Facebook

The helicopter went down shortly before 7 p.m. between two commercial buildings in the 9100 block of North Mason Avenue in Chatsworth, about two hours after an SUV struck a Metro bus nearby, killing at least two people and injuring six others. Several news helicopters had been covering the bus collision when NewsChopper4 crashed about a mile from the scene.

The crash sparked a fire that damaged four vehicles and two storage containers. “From the helicopter itself, it’s pretty well destroyed,” Los Angeles Fire Department spokesperson Brandon Silverman said.

“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,” the stations said in a statement published by NBC Los Angeles. “We extend our heartfelt condolences to the families, friends and colleagues of those who lost their lives.”

The National Transportation Safety Board and Federal Aviation Administration are investigating the cause of the crash.

Newsweek reached out to the Los Angeles Fire Department via email for additional information.

The aircraft’s pilot was George Marciniw, while aerial journalist Eliana Moreno reported from the helicopter for NBC4 and Telemundo 52, the stations confirmed. The person killed on the ground have not yet been publicly identified.

Moreno, who was born in Orange County, had become a familiar voice to viewers during the stations’ aerial coverage. She graduated from Chapman University in 2010 with degrees in broadcast journalism and political science and joined the Angel City Air helicopter team that September.

She had also reported for several other Southern California media outlets, according to NBC Los Angeles.

Marciniw grew up in Southern California and graduated from Burbank High School in 1974. He and Moreno began flying together in 2023, NBC Los Angeles reported.

NBC4 anchor Colleen Williams became emotional while confirming the deaths during a live broadcast, saying “We are going to take a couple of minutes to think about that, process it,” she said before the station’s coverage abruptly cut away.

Contact Newsweek editors on this story: Gray R. Thomas.