- NBC4 news helicopter crashes in the Chatsworth area of Los Angeles, resulting in the deaths of three individuals, including journalist Eliana Moreno and pilot George Marciniw.
- The victims aboard the helicopter were identified as Eliana Moreno, a journalist familiar to viewers of the station and its Spanish-language sister station, Telemundo 52, and pilot George Marciniw.
- A pedestrian on the ground was also confirmed to have died at the scene, officials said.
- NTSB and FAA have initiated an investigation into the cause of the helicopter crash.
- Eliana Moreno, in her late 30s, was born in Orange County, graduated from Chapman University in 2010, and joined Angel City Air’s helicopter team the same year.
- Colleen Williams, a veteran NBC4 Los Angeles anchor, paid tribute to her dear colleagues during a broadcast, expressing the station's grief over the loss.
- NBC Los Angeles and Telemundo 52 expressed their condolences, stating they were deeply saddened by the fatal accident.
A tragic helicopter crash in Los Angeles on Tuesday evening claimed the lives of three individuals, including Eliana Moreno, a well-known journalist for NBC4 and Telemundo 52, and George Marciniw, the pilot. Moreno, in her late 30s, was a graduate of Chapman University and had been with Angel City Air since 2010, reporting for various Southern California news outlets. She was recognized for her aerial journalism and was affectionately known as 'Eli in the heli' on social media.1257
Visibly emotional, veteran NBC4 anchor Colleen Williams paid tribute to her colleagues, stating, 'We are coming on the air with heavy hearts tonight because we lost valued friends and colleagues ... while on assignment tonight.' The crash also resulted in the death of a pedestrian on the ground, highlighting the tragic nature of the incident.36
In a statement, NBC Los Angeles and Telemundo 52 expressed their condolences, saying, '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 National Transportation Safety Board and Federal Aviation Administration are now investigating the cause of the crash, as tributes continue to pour in for the victims.
“Moreno, a Chapman University graduate, was known as 'Eli in the heli' on Instagram and had reported for multiple Southern California outlets. NBC4 anchor Colleen Williams, visibly emotional, told viewers: 'We are coming on the air with heavy hearts tonight because we lost valued friends and colleagues... while on assignment tonight.'”
