A news reporter never wants to become part of the story. But on Tuesday night, an NBC journalist was covering a tragic accident, then wound up becoming a victim in an accident of her own.
Reported by:
Cherry Meigh Timbol
News Content Editor
Published September 16, 2026
A news helicopter operated for NBC4 Los Angeles and Telemundo 52 crashed and burst into flames Tuesday evening in Chatsworth, Los Angeles, killing three people, including an aerial reporter and the aircraft’s pilot.
The helicopter was covering a separate deadly collision involving an SUV and a Metro bus when it went down shortly before 7 p.m. local time. The aircraft crashed between commercial buildings and a storage facility in the San Fernando Valley community.
Reporter and Pilot Among Those Killed
NBC4 identified the two people aboard the helicopter as Eliana Moreno, an aerial photojournalist and reporter who worked with NBC4 and Telemundo 52, and George Marciniw, the pilot.
A third person on the ground was also killed. Two other people were hospitalized following the crash.
Moreno had worked in aerial news coverage for years, while Marciniw had flown with her since 2023, according to reporting citing NBC4 and information provided by the station.
NBC4 and Telemundo 52 issued a joint statement expressing condolences to the victims’ families, friends and colleagues.
Helicopter Went Down While Covering Another Tragedy
The helicopter was in the area because several news crews were covering an earlier collision involving an SUV and a Los Angeles Metro bus.
That crash had already killed at least two people and injured six others. The helicopter went down roughly one mile from the original collision site.
The Los Angeles Fire Department said the helicopter crashed between two commercial buildings, igniting a fire that damaged four vehicles and two storage containers.
More than 50 firefighters responded to the helicopter crash.
Witnesses described seeing the aircraft lose altitude before crashing and producing a large fireball.
NBC4 Lost Contact With the Crew
NBC4 anchor Colleen Williams told viewers during the station’s live coverage that the station had lost contact with its helicopter crew.
The station later confirmed that NewsChopper4 had crashed.
The emotional broadcast was temporarily interrupted as NBC4 personnel processed the news that their colleagues had been involved in the fatal accident.
The crash occurred while the helicopter was being used for breaking-news coverage, highlighting the risks faced by journalists and pilots working around emergency scenes.
Cause Remains Under Investigation
The cause of the crash has not been determined.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) are investigating the accident. Investigators are expected to examine the helicopter, flight conditions, maintenance records, communications and other evidence to determine what caused the aircraft to go down.
Officials have not announced that mechanical failure, pilot error or any other specific factor caused the crash.
WATCH:
The chopper crashed in a parking lot near a storage facility.
A Double Tragedy for Chatsworth
The helicopter crash came only hours after the deadly bus collision that had brought emergency responders and news crews into the Chatsworth area.
Los Angeles officials expressed condolences to the victims of both incidents.
For NBC4 and Telemundo 52, the crash resulted in the deaths of two members of their aerial news operation while they were working to document another emergency.
🧩 Bottom Line:
For those of us who follow the news, it is easy to forget the risks journalists and pilots take to bring breaking events to the public. This tragedy is a sobering reminder that behind every live report is a person doing a difficult job under demanding circumstances. Our thoughts are with the families, friends, and colleagues of those who lost their lives. The cause of the crash remains under investigation, and the facts will ultimately come from that process.
SOURCES: REDSTATE – Deadly L.A. Helicopter Crash Kills News Reporter, Pilot While Covering Tragic Accident
THE GATEWAY PUNDIT – BREAKING: Horrifying Moment Los Angeles News Chopper Crashes In Giant Fireball During Live Shot – 3 DEAD (VIDEO)
ABC 7 EYEWITNESS NEWS – 3 killed after NBC4 helicopter crashes near site of deadly Chatsworth bus collision
