Entertainment
VIDEO: News Helicopter Crashes In Los Angeles; Beloved Journalist Dead
Tragedy struck Los Angeles on Tuesday night when a news helicopter affiliated with NBC4 crashed in Chatsworth, killing the pilot, an aerial photojournalist and one person on the ground.
The aircraft went down shortly before 7 p.m. in a parking lot near a self-storage facility in the San Fernando Valley community, according to the Los Angeles Fire Department.
The helicopter, operated by Angel City Air, had been providing aerial coverage for NBC Los Angeles and Telemundo 52 when contact was suddenly lost.
“We knew it was a news chopper, we knew we’d lost contact with our people out there, and we’ve just received the confirmation that, in fact, NewsChopper 4 went down just before 7 o’clock tonight in Chatsworth,” anchor Colleen Williams said.
Williams became emotional as the devastating news reached the station.
“We’re going to take a couple of minutes to think about that, to process and to regroup,” Williams added, her voice becoming emotional.
Authorities said three people were pronounced dead at the scene and two others were taken to a hospital. Their conditions were not immediately available.
The two people aboard the helicopter were identified by NBC Los Angeles as aerial photojournalist Eliana Moreno and pilot George Marciniw, both employees of Angel City Air.
Moreno was a familiar presence behind the aerial images seen by viewers across Southern California.
BREAKING: TV news helicopter crashes during live shot of bus crash in Los Angeles.
The helicopter belongs to NBC Los Angeles (KNBC-TV). No word yet on casualties. pic.twitter.com/kXwgr5meOP
— BNO News (@BNONews) September 16, 2026
She was born in Orange County and graduated from Chapman University in 2010 with degrees in broadcast journalism and political science, according to NBC Los Angeles.
She joined Angel City Air’s helicopter operation that same year and spent years covering breaking news for television stations throughout the region.
Marciniw also grew up in Southern California and graduated from Burbank High School.
NBC Los Angeles and Telemundo 52 released a joint statement mourning both members of the crew.
“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 stations said. “We extend our heartfelt condolences to the families, friends and colleagues of those who lost their lives.”
The deadly crash unfolded as the helicopter was covering another tragedy nearby.
Earlier Tuesday, a Los Angeles Metro bus and an SUV collided in Chatsworth, killing multiple people and sending several others to the hospital.
DEADLY NBC 4 HELICOPTER CRASH IN LOS ANGELES
A heartbreaking scene as KNBC arrives to cover a tragedy involving its own crew.
The NBC 4 Los Angeles helicopter reportedly suffered a serious malfunction while covering a Metro bus crash and plunged rapidly, according to flight… https://t.co/0ACDK38hlL pic.twitter.com/X2GtJ62zFO
— Subodh Kumar (@kumarsubodh_) September 16, 2026
Firefighters had been working to free trapped victims and treat passengers when news helicopters arrived overhead to cover the scene.
RELATED: 5 Americans, Top News Executive Killed In Helicopter Crash
Moments before the helicopter crash, witnesses said something appeared wrong with the aircraft.
“As we were driving I looked over to my left,” witness Zareh Sevanesian said. “I saw the helicopter — something didn’t look right. And I told my wife, ‘That helicopter is not flying right.’”
Sevanesian said the aircraft appeared to lose altitude before crashing and erupting into flames.
“It was one of the most violent fires I had ever seen,” Sevanesian recalled.
He said he found a person on the ground near the wreckage while others nearby were “screaming uncontrollably.”
“It was very terrifying and sad for everyone,” Allyona said.
Los Angeles firefighters and police officers who were already nearby rushed to the scene and found the helicopter engulfed in flames, with the fire spreading to nearby parked vehicles.
The Federal Aviation Administration said it would participate in the investigation, which is being led by the National Transportation Safety Board.
The NTSB said Wednesday that it was “investigating the Sept. 15 crash of a Eurocopter AS 350 B2 helicopter in Chatsworth, California.”
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass called it “a heartbreaking night for our city.”
“We lost five Angelenos today,” she said, “and my heart certainly goes out to the family and friends of all of those that we lost.”
California Gov. Gavin Newsom also offered condolences to the victims and the NBC4 community.
“Our hearts are with the victims and families of tonight’s devastating Metro bus and helicopter crashes in Chatsworth, and with the entire NBC4 family,” he said.
The cause of the helicopter crash remains under investigation.
