NBC Reporter, Pilot Killed in Los Angeles Helicopter Crash
A newly engaged NBC reporter, Eliana 'Eli' Moreno, and her pilot died Tuesday night when their news helicopter crashed in a Los Angeles parking lot while covering a separate fatal bus collision.
NBC reporter Eliana 'Eli' Moreno, 38, and pilot George Marciniw, 70, were killed Tuesday night when the NewsChopper4 they were aboard crashed in a parking lot in the Chatsworth neighborhood of Los Angeles. A pedestrian on the ground was also killed in the incident.
The helicopter went down near the scene of a fatal bus collision that occurred earlier that evening. The chopper was reportedly flying over the area between two warehouses when it suddenly lost altitude and crashed, sparking a significant blaze that threatened nearby vehicles.
Moreno, who was engaged to be married, had expressed passion for her work. On her Instagram account, 'Eli in the Heli,' she posted about having "the best job in the world." She had been an aerial reporter for NBC4 Los Angeles and Telemundo since 2010, covering a variety of major local events, police pursuits, and wildfires. She graduated from Chapman University in 2010 with degrees in broadcast journalism and political science and had previously worked at KCAL 9 and KCBS 2.
Pilot George Marciniw was an experienced aviator with over 14,000 flight hours. He and Moreno had been flying together since 2023.
NBC4 and Telemundo 52 released a statement expressing their sorrow. "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 statement read. "We extend our heartfelt condolences to the families, friends and colleagues of those who lost their lives."
Mayor Karen Bass of Los Angeles offered her condolences, stating her heart was with the families of those lost in both the bus collision and the helicopter crash. California Governor Gavin Newsom also shared his sympathy and thanked first responders.
The Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board are investigating the cause of the helicopter crash. The bus collision, which occurred around 5 p.m. Tuesday, involved an SUV and a Metro bus, resulting in multiple injuries and fatalities. Authorities are looking into the possibility that one of the vehicles ran a red light.