3 dead after NBC Los Angeles news helicopter crashes near site of deadly bus crash in Chatsworth
By Dean Fioresi
Investigations are underway after three people were killed when an NBC Los Angeles helicopter crashed in the San Fernando Valley on Tuesday night near the scene of a deadly Metro bus crash in Chatsworth.
The helicopter crash happened just before 7 p.m. between two commercial buildings at a storage facility in the 9100 block of N. Mason Avenue, according to Los Angeles firefighters. The aircraft appeared to have landed on top of two shipping containers and several vehicles that were parked in the area.
Around 9 p.m., NBCLA confirmed that the helicopter belonged to their station. NBCLA later identified the two victims on board the helicopter as aerial news reporter Eliana Moreno and pilot George Marciniw.
“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,” said a statement from NBCLA and Telemundo 52. “We extend our heartfelt condolences to the families, friends and colleagues of those who lost their lives.”
LAFD Captain Branden Silverman said a third victim was pronounced dead at the scene of the crash. Officials believe he was outside on the ground when the helicopter crashed.
The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner has identified the person as 29-year-old Edy Guitierrez Mejia.
Circumstances surrounding the incident remain unclear, but aerial footage showed Los Angeles firefighters working to fight the flames from a large fire that broke out after the crash and spread to the nearby vehicles.
Another victim was taken to a local hospital in unknown condition, the LAFD said. The nature of their injuries is not immediately known.
The National Transportation Safety Board and the Federal Aviation Administration confirmed that they will be investigating the helicopter crash. The FAA said the NTSB will lead the investigation. Both are expected to be at the scene on Wednesday.
Updates on the investigation
During a news conference on Wednesday, NTSB investigator-in-charge Fabian Salazar said the public can expect a preliminary report on the crash in about 30 days. After that preliminary report, a final report will follow, which will include the probable cause of the crash.
Salazar repeatedly called the crash an “accident,” but refrained from speculating on what could have caused the helicopter to drop.
“The NTSB and the FAA and our party members will be on scene pretty much all day today gathering factual data from the wreckage,” he said. “So [Wednesday] …. we are doing the field portion of the of the investigation. That is, we’re on the accident scene gathering as much factual data as we can.”
The initial steps of the investigation, aside from examining the wreckage, will include obtaining and reviewing video footage from nearby security cameras and conducting witness interviews.
Salazar acknowledged that the NBCLA helicopter was capturing footage from a live camera when the crash occurred. He called that video the “most important evidence” so far.
“What we’re going to do is get a pristine copy of that recording and send it to our recorders lab for a sound spectrum analysis,” he said. “Because in that recording, 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.”
Anyone with information regarding either the deadly bus collision or helicopter crash was encouraged to email the NTSB at witness@ntsb.gov.
Mayor Bass and Gov. Newsom speak on tragic day
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass and other city leaders spoke during a news conference on Tuesday night.
“This is a very, very tragic day in Los Angeles,” Bass said while speaking during a news conference. “We lost five Angelenos today, and my hearts certainly go out to the families and friends to all of those that we lost. … This is a heartbreaking night for our city, and my thoughts and prayers are with first and foremost with the families and loved ones that we lost today.”
Supervisor Lindsey Horvath called on Angelenos to support one another during such difficult times.
“Tonight is a time to care for the people who are hurting, to support our first responders and to stand together as a community,” Horvath said. “Chatsworth has experienced an incredibly difficult day. To everyone grieving, recovering or processing what they experienced today, we are here for you and we stand with you.”
California Gov. Gavin Newsom also shared a message on Facebook late Tuesday.
“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,” Newsom’s post said.
The Los Angeles Police Department offered its heartfelt condolences to the families, friends, colleagues and loved ones of those who died during the crash.
“The LAPD recognizes and values the vital role our media partners play in serving our community,” the LAPD said in a statement. “Their commitment to informing the public — often in challenging and unpredictable circumstances — is essential to public safety.”
CBS LA anchors and reporters also spoke on the tragedy impacting the tight-knit news community in Los Angeles after the helicopter’s affiliation was confirmed.
“It was a double tragedy,” said CBS LA’s Desmond Shaw. “I don’t want the poor people that were caught in the bus crash today – I don’t want them to be forgotten either … I obviously just have to give my heartfelt condolences to NBC and the family members of the crew on board.”
“Our hearts go out to all of them. This is when we all come together for something like this, even if you’ve never met the person,” CBS LA anchor Pat Harvey said. “I want to say that we have each other’s backs.”
“That helicopter community is a small group of people, and it’s just devastating to know that this has happened to one of those people, to our friends and our colleagues at NBC4,” CBS LA assignment editor Mike Rogers said. “Our hearts are shattered with you.”
NBCLA mourns loss of colleagues
NBCLA and Telemundo 52 are mourning the loss of two of their colleagues, Moreno and Marciniw. Reporters and anchors shared tributes and memories they shared with Moreno and Marciniw.
The station reported that Moreno was born in Orange County and was a 2010 graduate of Chapman University. She studied broadcast journalism and political science. NBCLA added that she joined the Angel City Air helicopter team in September 2010.
Moreno worked across other Southern California news outlets, including CBS LA.
Marciniw also grew up in Southern California and graduated from Burbank High School in 1974.
They began flying together in 2023.
CBS LA’s Mark Liu said he previously worked with Moreno when she was beginning her career as a news helicopter reporter.
“I had the opportunity to work with her when I was an assignment manager when I was in the newsroom back then,” Liu said. “What I remember about her is that she was so enthusiastic and so excited for this job. She described it as one of the greatest jobs in television news.”
CBS LA reporter Rick Montanez also previously worked with Moreno. He described her as passionate and dedicated to covering news.
“I worked with her on a lot of breaking news during my years I spent in the NBC newsroom covering wildfires, covering breaking news across Southern California,” Montanez said. “You could just feel the passion in her for this, this calling.”
