A routine evening of breaking-news coverage in Los Angeles turned into a devastating tragedy when a news helicopter disappeared from the sky over Chatsworth. What happened in the moments before the aircraft hit the ground is now at the centre of a federal investigation, with investigators turning to the helicopter’s final recording for answers.

The crash killed three people, including two members of the NewsChopper4 crew, while the aircraft was covering another deadly crash nearby. As colleagues and viewers mourn, the NTSB is piecing together the final moments of a flight that ended in one of the most heartbreaking nights for Southern California television news.

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Los Angeles News Helicopter Crash Kills Three

The helicopter went down at approximately 6:57 p.m. on September 15, 2026, near 9151 North Mason Avenue in Chatsworth, between two commercial buildings.

The aircraft caught fire after striking the ground. Firefighters managed to extinguish the blaze before it spread to surrounding structures, although four vehicles and two storage containers were damaged.

According to the Los Angeles Fire Department, 67 firefighters ultimately responded. Four patients were identified at the scene. Three were pronounced dead, while one person was transported to a hospital.

The helicopter was known as NewsChopper4 and was operated by Angel City Air for NBC4 and Telemundo 52. It was a Eurocopter AS350 B2, manufactured in 2004, according to NBC Los Angeles.

The two people aboard were later identified as veteran pilot George Marciniw and aerial reporter Eliana Moreno.

A third person, 29-year-old Edy Fernando Gutiérrez Mejia, was killed on the ground.

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The Three Victims of the Chatsworth Helicopter Crash

Person	Age	Role/Details
Eliana Moreno	38	Aerial reporter for NBC4 and Telemundo 52
George Marciniw	—	Veteran pilot and flight instructor
Edy Fernando Gutiérrez Mejia	29	Ground victim visiting Los Angeles from Guatemala

The Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner identified Mejia following the crash. NBC Los Angeles reported that he was visiting Los Angeles from Cuilapa, Guatemala.

His cousin said Mejia had been in Los Angeles for only two days and was planning to purchase a vehicle to take back to Guatemala.

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Eliana Moreno’s Life Was Built Around Becoming a Reporter

For viewers, Eliana Moreno was more than a voice coming through a television screen.

The 38-year-old reporter became a familiar presence during some of Southern California’s biggest breaking-news moments, reporting from above wildfires, police pursuits and other major incidents.

Moreno was born in Orange County and graduated from Chapman University in 2010, earning degrees in broadcast journalism and political science. She joined Angel City Air’s helicopter operation in 2010 and worked with several Southern California news organisations throughout her career.

She was also known online as “Eli in the heli,” sharing behind-the-scenes glimpses into the unusual world of aerial journalism.

Moreno and Marciniw began flying together in 2023. Over the following years, their partnership became familiar to viewers as they covered major Southern California stories, including the devastating January 2025 wildfires and numerous police pursuits.

But behind the professional partnership was something even more personal: a long-held dream.

Moreno’s family said she had dreamed of becoming a reporter since she was 11 years old.

“Since she was 11 years old, Eliana dreamed of becoming a news reporter. Through hard work and courage, she turned that dream into a reality. So much of that journey was made possible by all of you who welcomed her into your homes and onto your screens. Your support meant more to her than you may ever know. We find comfort in knowing that Eliana left this world doing the very thing she loved, pursuing the passion she carried with her since she was a little girl.”

Her family also shared a message thanking those who had supported Moreno throughout her life.

“On behalf of her parents, siblings, fiancé, stepsons, and beloved dogs, we want to thank everyone for the overwhelming love you have shown our beautiful Eliana. We are infinitely proud of her and feel incredibly blessed to have had the privilege of loving her and calling her ours. Please continue to keep Eliana, her pilot George, Edy Gutierrez Mejia, and the souls lost in the bus collision in your thoughts and prayers. Thank you, from the bottom of our hearts.”

Her brother, Johan Moreno, wrote:

“RIP sis, I will love you to the end of time. My family and I just went through the worst day of our lives. We appreciate all the support and love. Thank you for your well wishes and understanding.”

George Marciniw Was a Veteran Pilot and Mentor

George Marciniw had spent decades in aviation.

A Southern California native, Marciniw graduated from Burbank High School in 1974 and went on to build a career that included work as a flight instructor.

NBC Los Angeles reported that he had more than 30 years of flight experience and was highly regarded by fellow pilots.

For those who knew him, Marciniw was not simply an experienced pilot. He was also a mentor.

Helicopter pilot Esteban Jimenez, who had known Marciniw for decades, recalled their relationship.

“I knew him since the 90s. He was my instructor at one time, he was my eyes and ears here in L.A. He let me know what was going on with everything. I just spoke to him on Sunday we were talking about the aviation business and retiring,” Jimenez said. “I just cannot believe this.”

Marciniw and Moreno were frequently photographed together and became a recognisable NewsChopper4 team. Their colleagues said they had spent hundreds of hours working together in the air.

NBC4’s Lynette Romero remembered the pair and the work they shared.

“They were both doing what they loved so much, and for me, that’s comfort in knowing how happy they were. They loved breaking news, and they loved being in News Chopper 4.”

Romero also described the unusually personal connection viewers can develop with aerial journalists.

“Our viewers are grieving, too. They lost somebody who they knew very intimately. When you have that voice of a news chopper reporter in your ear, that’s a very intimate relationship, right? They’re telling you exactly what they’re seeing, and you can hear it in their voice.”

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NewsChopper4 Was Covering Another Deadly Chatsworth Crash

The helicopter had taken to the air because another serious crash had already unfolded in Chatsworth.

At approximately 5 p.m. that afternoon, a gray 2004 Ford Expedition travelling in the wrong direction on De Soto Avenue ran a red light at Nordhoff Street and struck an eastbound Metro bus.

The collision killed two bus passengers:

• 31-year-old Gage Weida
• 46-year-old Daniel Castillo

Several other people were injured.

According to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office, the SUV driver, 36-year-old Bailee Lynn Rios of Simi Valley, was charged with two counts of second-degree murder, driving under the influence of a drug causing injury and reckless driving.

Prosecutors allege Rios was travelling at a high rate of speed on the wrong side of the road when she ran the red light and struck the Metro bus.

The DA’s office said Rios faces a potential sentence of life in prison with the possibility of parole if convicted as charged. Her bail was set at $4.1 million, according to the prosecution.

The deadly bus collision had already triggered a major emergency response and extensive television coverage when NewsChopper4 was launched.

Then, less than a mile away, another tragedy unfolded.

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NTSB Examines the Final Moments of the Helicopter Flight

The National Transportation Safety Board began its investigation at the crash site the following morning.

One piece of evidence has quickly emerged as particularly important: video recorded from inside the helicopter during its live news coverage shortly before the crash.

The recording captured the view outside the aircraft while preserving sounds from inside the helicopter.

NTSB Investigator-in-Charge Fabian Salazar described the footage as critical.

“The video is probably the most important piece of evidence that we have discovered so far.”

Investigators want a pristine version of the recording so it can undergo detailed sound analysis.

Salazar said:

“What we want to do is get a pristine copy of that recording and send it to our recorder’s lab for a sound spectrum analysis.”

Investigators could hear sounds that appeared consistent with changes in engine speed, along with tones that appeared to be cockpit advisories.

“We are clearly hearing sounds that are consistent with the engine changing its speed, and we’re also hearing tones that are being generated that are likely advisories to the pilot.”

However, those sounds have not established what caused the crash. Investigators have not determined whether a specific mechanical failure occurred.

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Surveillance Video Captures the Helicopter’s Descent

Another important development came when surveillance footage from a nearby building emerged.

The footage captures the final portion of the helicopter’s descent into the parking area.

Aviation safety expert Jeff Guzzetti, speaking to NBC Los Angeles, said the footage appeared to show the helicopter losing power.

“That piece of video indicates that something went wrong, suddenly, during the flight,” Guzzetti said.

He said the helicopter appeared to be hovering normally before a change in sound was followed by what he described as a likely low-rotor-RPM warning.

“The helicopter appeared to be hovering in a stable position, and then you hear this winding down noise… but that’s followed by a very clear warning horn, which is likely the low rotor RPM warning horn.”

Guzzetti also said the descent appeared consistent with an attempted autorotation landing.

“You actually see the helicopter begin to descend and go a little bit nose-low, and that would be consistent with an auto-rotation landing.”

Autorotation is an emergency flight condition in which the rotor system continues turning because of airflow through the rotor rather than being powered normally by the engine.

The surveillance footage, however, has not established the underlying reason for the apparent change in engine or rotor behaviour.

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Investigators Are Looking at Maintenance, Weather and Training

The NTSB investigation is not limited to the recordings.

Investigators are examining the wreckage and are expected to review the helicopter’s maintenance records, weather conditions, pilot training and experience.

The agency is also seeking additional recordings from witnesses and nearby cameras.

Salazar said investigators were working with local businesses to obtain security footage and would interview witnesses.

“We’re working towards interviews with witnesses, and in gathering that factual data, we’ll be able to paint a better picture of the actual accident sequence.”

Despite the destruction, investigators believe significant physical evidence remains.

“There is still a lot of physical evidence that will help us to get to the point where we’re analyzing that factual data and getting to a probable cause.”

The preliminary NTSB report is expected approximately 30 days after the crash, although determining a probable cause through the complete investigation can take substantially longer.

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NBC4 Grieves the Loss of Its NewsChopper4 Crew

The tragedy struck particularly hard at NBC4 because Moreno and Marciniw were part of the station’s aerial news operation.

After the station lost contact with the helicopter, anchor Colleen Williams told viewers about the developing situation.

She later said:

“We are going to take a couple of minutes to think about that, to process and to regroup.”

Williams subsequently opened the station’s evening broadcast by acknowledging the deaths of colleagues and friends.

“We are coming on the air with heavy hearts tonight because we lost valued friends and colleagues just before 7 p.m. News Chopper 4 crashed in Chatsworth while on assignment tonight.”

NBC4 and Telemundo 52 later issued a joint statement:

“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. We extend our heartfelt condolences to the families, friends and colleagues of those who lost their lives.”

Los Angeles Mourns Five Victims From Two Crashes

The two crashes left five people dead in Chatsworth that day.

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass described the situation as:

“This is a very, very, very tragic day in Los Angeles.”

Bass added:

“Our hearts are with those impacted by the bus collision and the helicopter crash, and with the entire community who lost members of their team while they were doing their job.”

She also said:

“our focus is with the victims, their families, and loved ones, and supporting those who responded to this tragedy.”

California Gov. Gavin Newsom wrote:

“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. Thank you to the first responders working tirelessly tonight.”

A community vigil was scheduled at St. John Eudes Parish in Chatsworth for Moreno, Marciniw, Gutierrez Mejia, Weida and Castillo.

Flowers, cards and other tributes have also been left at the crash site, at Whiteman Airport in Pacoima, where NewsChopper4 was based, and outside the NBC4 and Telemundo 52 studios.

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The Longstanding Risks of Los Angeles News Helicopters

News helicopters have been part of Los Angeles television journalism for decades.

Aerial reporting has become closely associated with the city, particularly during police pursuits, wildfires, traffic incidents and other rapidly developing emergencies.

KTLA introduced its “Telecopter” in 1958, helping establish the model of using helicopters as a regular part of television news gathering.

The dangers of the work have also been demonstrated in previous fatal crashes involving news helicopters.

In 2007, four people were killed when two television helicopters collided while covering a police pursuit in Phoenix.

In 2023, two members of a news crew died when their helicopter crashed in New Jersey while returning from an assignment.

Los Angeles has its own history of fatal incidents involving news helicopters. In 1977, KNBC helicopter pilot Francis Gary Powers and cameraman George Spears died after their aircraft crashed while covering brush fires.

The Chatsworth crash has renewed attention on the risks faced by aerial journalists and pilots, particularly during rapidly developing breaking-news situations.

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Investigation Into the Chatsworth Helicopter Crash Continues

For now, the cause of the September 15 helicopter crash remains undetermined.

The NTSB has identified the live helicopter footage as a particularly important piece of evidence, but investigators have not said that an engine failure, fuel problem, mechanical defect or pilot action caused the crash.

The investigation will continue through analysis of the helicopter’s audio and video, examination of the wreckage, maintenance records, witness interviews, weather information and other evidence.

The goal is to establish the sequence of events that brought NewsChopper4 down and determine why the aircraft lost altitude.

For the families of Eliana Moreno, George Marciniw and Edy Gutierrez Mejia, however, the investigation is unfolding alongside an immeasurable loss.

Moreno was doing the work she had dreamed about since childhood. Marciniw was flying with decades of aviation experience behind him. Gutierrez Mejia was visiting Los Angeles from Guatemala when the helicopter came down.

And what began as an evening of breaking-news coverage ended with three lives lost in a tragedy that is now being investigated from every possible angle.

Disclaimer

This article has been prepared from the verified information and sources provided, including statements and information from government agencies, investigators, affected news organisations, and local reporting. The cause of the helicopter crash has not been determined, and investigative findings may change as additional evidence is examined. The article does not imply independent verification beyond the information supported by the provided sources.

Sources

• National Transportation Safety Board
• Los Angeles Fire Department — Fatal Helicopter Crash in Chatsworth
• Los Angeles Fire Department — Official Crash Incident Records
• NBC Los Angeles — Video of live coverage is key evidence in crash investigation
• NBC Los Angeles — New surveillance video emerges from Chatsworth helicopter crash
• NBC Los Angeles — Eliana Moreno and George Marciniw identified as victims
• NBC Los Angeles — Family of Eliana Moreno releases statement
• NBC Los Angeles — Third helicopter-crash victim identified as Edy Gutierrez Mejia
• Los Angeles Police Department — Driver Faces Murder Charges Following Fatal Crash
• Los Angeles County District Attorney — Driver Charged After Fatal Chatsworth Crash

Featured Image Credit:

• Edu Raw on Pexels