Eliana Moreno and George Marciniw Killed in Los Angeles News Helicopter Crash
Reporter Eliana Moreno and pilot George Marciniw were killed Tuesday evening when a news helicopter crashed in Chatsworth, Los Angeles, while providing aerial coverage of a separate deadly traffic collision.
The helicopter was operated by Angel City Air and provided aerial news coverage for NBC4 and Telemundo 52. Three people were killed in the helicopter crash, including Moreno and Marciniw. A third person on the ground also died. Two other people were hospitalized following the incident.
Helicopter Crashed While Covering Traffic Collision
The crash happened shortly before 7 p.m. in the Chatsworth area of northern Los Angeles.
The helicopter had been covering an earlier collision involving an SUV and a Metro bus. That crash had already resulted in multiple casualties, prompting several news organizations to send helicopters to the area.
The NBC4 helicopter later went down near North Mason Avenue. The aircraft caught fire after hitting the ground, damaging several vehicles and storage containers nearby.
More than 70 firefighters responded to the scene as emergency crews worked to control the flames and search the crash area.
Eliana Moreno Was an Experienced Aerial Reporter
Moreno was a familiar face and voice to viewers of NBC4 and Telemundo 52. She worked as an aerial reporter, providing live information from above Southern California during breaking news events.
She joined Angel City Air in 2010 and had spent years reporting from helicopters. NBC Los Angeles reported that Moreno and Marciniw frequently worked together, particularly during evening news coverage.
Her colleagues remembered her as an experienced journalist who played an important role in the station’s aerial reporting operation.
George Marciniw Was a Veteran Pilot
Marciniw was an experienced helicopter pilot who had worked in Southern California for decades.
Reports indicate that he had accumulated thousands of flight hours and had worked as a pilot and flight instructor. Moreno and Marciniw had been working together since 2023.
The pair regularly flew over Los Angeles to provide live aerial images during fires, traffic crashes, police activity and other breaking news events.
Their deaths have prompted an outpouring of condolences from colleagues and officials.
Investigation Into Crash Underway
The cause of the helicopter crash remains unknown.
The National Transportation Safety Board and the Federal Aviation Administration are expected to investigate what caused the aircraft to go down. Officials have not announced a confirmed mechanical problem or other explanation for the crash.
NBC4 and Telemundo 52 issued a statement expressing deep sadness over the fatal accident and extending condolences to the victims’ families, friends and colleagues.
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass and California Gov. Gavin Newsom also expressed condolences following the crash.
The helicopter tragedy occurred on a particularly difficult night for the Chatsworth community. The crew had been covering another deadly crash when their own aircraft went down.
As investigators begin examining the wreckage and circumstances surrounding the flight, Moreno and Marciniw are being remembered for their years of work bringing breaking news to viewers across Southern California.
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