NBC Helicopter Crashes, Killing Three in Los Angeles

Three people died Tuesday when an NBC News helicopter crashed in Los Angeles, leaving behind charred wreckage and raising questions about the cause of the incident. The victims have been identified as NBC reporter Eliana Moreno, pilot George Marciniw, and pedestrian Edy Gutierrez Mejia.

Moreno and Marciniw, who had worked together as a reporter-pilot crew for years, were reportedly covering the scene of an SUV that had collided with a city bus. This earlier crash resulted in the deaths of Daniel Castillo and Gage Weida.

Images from the crash site show the severely damaged remains of News Chopper4, with the NBC logo visible among the debris. Firefighters worked to extinguish flames that engulfed the wreckage and nearby vehicles. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) stated that the crash occurred under unknown circumstances and is investigating alongside the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), which will lead the inquiry.

Video footage captured in the moments before the crash appears to record Moreno and Marciniw discussing their position as an alarm sounds and the helicopter begins to shake. Moreno can be heard asking, "Can we plan our spot, George?" followed by "Uh oh," and then, "Can you… you can’t pull up?" as the chopper descends rapidly before the video cuts out.

Veteran helicopter reporter Zoey Tur, based on the available video, suggested that the audible cues indicated a potential engine failure and a slow response to an autorotation maneuver. Tur stated that she recognized "the low rotor RPM annunciator horn" and "the engine rev down."

Flight data indicates the helicopter had been in the air for approximately an hour before its descent. Tributes have been shared for Moreno and Marciniw since their deaths. NBC LA reporter Robert Kovacik was visibly emotional discussing the loss of his colleagues shortly after the crash.