NBC Reporter, Pilot Identified as Victims in Deadly Los Angeles Helicopter Crash
The crash also killed a third person on the ground, with federal agencies investigating the incident.
Journalist Eliana Moreno and pilot George Marciniw have been identified as two of the victims in a fatal helicopter crash that occurred Tuesday night in Los Angeles. Both Moreno and Marciniw were employees of Angel City Air, the company that operated NBC4 Los Angeles' NewsChopper4.
The helicopter was reportedly covering a deadly bus crash in downtown Los Angeles when it lost altitude and crashed in the Chatsworth neighborhood. A third victim on the ground was also killed in the incident.
Moreno, known as "Eli in the Heli," had been a fixture on NBC4 and Telemundo 52's aerial coverage for years. She had been working with Marciniw, a Southern California native, since 2023.
"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," NBC4 and Telemundo 52 said in a statement. "We extend our heartfelt condolences to the families, friends and colleagues of those who lost their lives."
The crash resulted in a large fireball and injured a fourth person, who was transported to a local hospital. California Gov. Gavin Newsom expressed his condolences on X, thanking first responders.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) have announced that investigators will be dispatched to the crash site to determine the cause of the incident.