News Helicopter Crashes in Los Angeles, Killing Three
Los Angeles, California — A news helicopter providing aerial coverage of a deadly traffic collision in Los Angeles crashed Tuesday evening in the Chatsworth area, killing three people and leaving two others hospitalized, authorities said.
The helicopter went down shortly before 7 p.m. near the 9100 block of North Mason Avenue, in the San Fernando Valley. The aircraft burst into flames after the crash, prompting a major emergency response involving more than 70 firefighters.
The helicopter, known as NewsChopper4, was operated by Angel City Air and was providing aerial coverage for NBC4 and Telemundo 52. NBC Los Angeles identified the two people aboard who died as aerial journalist and photojournalist Eliana Moreno and pilot George Marciniw. A third person on the ground was also killed.
The crash occurred near the scene of an earlier collision involving an SUV and a Los Angeles Metro bus. That separate crash had already killed at least two people and injured several others, according to authorities. The news helicopter had been covering the incident when it went down.
NBC4 anchor Colleen Williams confirmed the helicopter crash during a live broadcast after the station lost contact with its crew. The emotional announcement was followed by a temporary pause in the station's coverage as colleagues processed the news.
Los Angeles firefighters found the helicopter engulfed in flames when they arrived. The fire spread to nearby vehicles and storage containers, but emergency crews were able to bring the blaze under control. Two additional people were transported to a hospital, although authorities had not immediately released details about their conditions.
The cause of the helicopter crash remains under investigation. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is investigating the incident, and authorities have not announced a definitive explanation for why the aircraft went down.
The tragedy has drawn condolences from officials and journalists across Southern California. California Governor Gavin Newsom expressed sympathy for the victims and their families, while NBC4 and Telemundo 52 said they were mourning the loss of their colleagues.
The helicopter crash and the earlier bus collision together turned Tuesday into a particularly devastating day for the Chatsworth community, with five people reported killed across the two incidents.
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