{"id":224419,"date":"2026-09-16T19:16:47","date_gmt":"2026-09-16T19:16:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/quixnet.net\/wpinstance\/3-dead-after-news-helicopter-reporting-for-nbc-l-a-crashes-while-covering-fatal-bus-collision-nbc-news\/"},"modified":"2026-09-16T19:16:47","modified_gmt":"2026-09-16T19:16:47","slug":"3-dead-after-news-helicopter-reporting-for-nbc-l-a-crashes-while-covering-fatal-bus-collision-nbc-news","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/quixnet.net\/wpinstance\/3-dead-after-news-helicopter-reporting-for-nbc-l-a-crashes-while-covering-fatal-bus-collision-nbc-news\/","title":{"rendered":"3 dead after news helicopter reporting for NBC L.A. crashes while covering fatal bus collision – NBC News"},"content":{"rendered":"

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A helicopter providing news coverage for NBC Los Angeles crashed while it was reporting on a fatal bus collision Tuesday evening, killing the photojournalist and pilot on board<\/a> and one person on the ground, the station and officials said.
The aircraft crashed in a parking lot near a self-storage facility in the community of Chatsworth, in the San Fernando Valley, according to the Los Angeles Fire Department and news video on the ground from NBC Los Angeles.<\/a>
Angel City Air operated the helicopter, and the news station said it had lost contact with those on board. NBC Los Angeles identified the victims aboard the helicopter as Angel City Air employees Eliana Moreno, an aerial photojournalist <\/a>familiar to viewers of the station and its Spanish-language sister station, Telemundo 52, and pilot George Marciniw.<\/a>
The third victim was identified Wednesday as Edy Gutierrez Mejia, 29. Fire Capt. Branden Silverman said earlier that the victim appeared to be a pedestrian on the ground.
\u201cWe knew it was a news chopper, we knew we\u2019d lost contact with our people out there, and we\u2019ve just received the confirmation that, in fact, NewsChopper4 went down just before 7 o\u2019clock tonight in Chatsworth,\u201d anchor Colleen Williams said.
\u201cWe\u2019re going to take a couple of minutes to think about that, to process and to regroup,\u201d Williams added, her voice becoming emotional.
Lynette Romero, co-anchor of NBCLA\u2019s morning newscast, said they were \u201cheartbroken\u201d and are thinking of the families of Moreno and Marciniw.
\u201cThey were both doing what they loved so much and for me, that\u2019s comfort in knowing how happy they were. They loved breaking news, and they loved being in NewsChopper4,\u201d she said Wednesday on NBC\u2019s \u201cTODAY\u201d show.
Angel City Air, which describes itself as \u201ca full-service aerial production company,\u201d did not immediately respond to a request for comment Tuesday night.
Three people were dead at the scene, and two others were taken to the hospital, Fire Battalion Chief Rico A. Gross said at a late-night news conference. Their conditions were unavailable.
Zareh Sevanesian, who witnessed the crash, said the helicopter was swaying before it started losing altitude.
\u201cIt was just getting lower and lower and lower and lower,\u201d he said on the \u201cTODAY\u201d show.
Moreno was born in Orange County, south of Los Angeles, and graduated from Chapman University with a degree in broadcast journalism and political science in 2010, NBC Los Angeles reported. She joined Angel City Air\u2019s helicopter team the same year and has reported for multiple Southern California news outlets.
Marciniw also grew up in Southern California, where he graduated from Burbank High School, the station said.
NBC Los Angeles and Telemundo 52 issued a joint statement expressing condolences.
\u201cWe 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,\u201d the stations said. \u201cWe extend our heartfelt condolences to the families, friends and colleagues of those who lost their lives.\u201d
The helicopter crash occurred after two people were killed and others were injured in a crash between a Los Angeles Metro bus and a passenger vehicle on Nordhoff Street, according to the fire department.
It said that the bus crash happened at 5:03 p.m. and that firefighters worked to free the trapped people and assess the bus passengers.
The helicopter was one of multiple aircraft covering the crash, NBC Los Angeles reported earlier.
Fire and police personnel were nearby, Silverman said. They rushed to the crash, reported shortly before 7 p.m., and found the helicopter engulfed in flames, which had spread to nearby parked vehicles, he added.
Witness Zareh Sevanesian was driving nearby with his wife, Allyona, when he saw the chopper\u2019s unusual descent.
\u201cAs we were driving, I looked over to my left,\u201d he said. \u201cI saw the helicopter \u2014 something didn\u2019t look right. And I told my wife, \u2018That helicopter is not flying right.\u2019\u201d
Sevanesian said he saw the helicopter gradually losing altitude. Then, he said, he pulled over near the crash as fire roared.
\u201cIt was one of the most violent fires I had ever seen,\u201d Sevanesian recalled.
He said he soon found a person down near the wreckage and three others \u201cscreaming uncontrollably.\u201d
\u201cIt was very terrifying and sad for everyone,\u201d Allyona said.
The Federal Aviation Administration said in a statement Wednesday that it would be involved in the investigation, which it said the National Transportation Safety Board would lead.
The NTSB said in a statement Wednesday that it was \u201cinvestigating the Sept. 15 crash of a Eurocopter AS 350 B2 helicopter in Chatsworth, California.\u201d It added that its investigators are expected to arrive on scene Wednesday morning.
Speaking near the scene Tuesday night, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass said it was \u201ca heartbreaking night for our city.\u201d She praised first responders for their quick reaction and expressed grief over those who were killed in the bus collision and the aircraft crash.
\u201cWe lost five Angelenos today,\u201d she said, \u201cand my heart certainly goes out to the family and friends of all of those that we lost.\u201d
California Gov. Gavin Newsom also thanked first responders and offered condolences in a statement on X.
\u201cOur hearts are with the victims and families of tonight\u2019s devastating Metro bus and helicopter crashes in Chatsworth, and with the entire NBC4 family,\u201d he said.
Dennis Romero is a breaking news reporter for NBC News Digital.
© 2026 NBCUniversal Media, LLC<\/p>\n

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