Chatsworth Helicopter Crash: 3 Dead in Los Angeles
Three people were killed Tuesday night after a news helicopter crashed in Chatsworth, Los Angeles, near the scene of an earlier deadly Metro bus collision.
The Chatsworth helicopter crash happened shortly before 7 p.m. in the 9100 block of North Mason Avenue in the San Fernando Valley. The aircraft came down between commercial buildings at a storage facility and erupted into flames, according to Los Angeles firefighters.
The helicopter was later identified as NewsChopper4, an aircraft operated by Angel City Air and used for aerial coverage by NBC4 and Telemundo 52. Two people aboard the helicopter were killed, while a third person on the ground also died. Two additional people were taken to a hospital after the crash, according to later fire department updates.
Chatsworth Helicopter Crash Sparks Major Emergency Response
The crash created a large fire at the commercial property. The aircraft struck two shipping containers and several vehicles, with flames spreading across the immediate area.
Los Angeles firefighters rushed to the scene and worked to extinguish the fire while police secured the surrounding area. Early in the response, firefighters said the helicopter was so badly damaged that it was difficult to determine how many people had been aboard.
LAFD Captain Branden Silverman said one person appeared to have been outside the helicopter when it crashed and was pronounced dead at the scene. Firefighters later confirmed two additional fatalities connected to the crash.
The circumstances that caused the helicopter to go down remain unclear.
Investigators are expected to examine the aircraft wreckage, flight information, maintenance history and other evidence as they work to determine what happened during the final moments of the flight.
NewsChopper4 Was Covering Another Deadly Crash
The helicopter was in the Chatsworth area because television crews were covering an earlier traffic collision involving a Metro bus and an SUV.
That crash happened around 5 p.m. near Nordhoff Street and De Soto Avenue. The collision left multiple people dead and injured others, according to local authorities and news reports. Several television helicopters were in the area providing aerial coverage when NewsChopper4 went down nearby.
The two incidents unfolded only a short distance apart, turning an already active emergency scene into an even larger disaster response.
The earlier collision involved an SUV striking the side of a Metro bus. Emergency crews had to rescue people from the wreckage before transporting injured victims to hospitals.
As journalists continued reporting on that crash from the air, contact with the NBC helicopter was lost.
Reporter Eliana Moreno and Pilot George Marciniw Among Dead
NBC Los Angeles later confirmed that aerial reporter Eliana Moreno and pilot George Marciniw were among those killed in the helicopter crash.
Moreno was a familiar presence to viewers who watched NBC4 and Telemundo 52’s aerial news coverage across Southern California. She joined the Angel City Air helicopter operation in 2010 after studying broadcast journalism and political science at Chapman University.
Moreno and Marciniw had been flying together since 2023, according to NBC Los Angeles.
The deaths prompted an emotional response inside the NBC4 newsroom. During the station’s live coverage, anchor Colleen Williams confirmed that the station had lost contact with its helicopter before later announcing that the aircraft had crashed.
NBC4 and Telemundo 52 expressed condolences to the victims’ families, friends and colleagues.
Cause of Chatsworth Helicopter Crash Remains Unknown
Authorities have not announced what caused the Chatsworth helicopter crash.
The National Transportation Safety Board and Federal Aviation Administration are expected to investigate the accident. Los Angeles police are also investigating aspects of the incident.
Investigators will likely examine the helicopter’s flight path, mechanical systems, maintenance records, weather conditions and communications before the crash.
Officials have not publicly identified a mechanical failure or other specific cause. Until investigators complete their examination, the circumstances surrounding the crash remain undetermined.
The damaged aircraft and the fire could make the early investigation particularly challenging.
Federal investigators are expected to begin a detailed examination of the crash site and wreckage as authorities work to reconstruct the helicopter’s final moments.
Los Angeles Officials Express Condolences
The tragedy brought condolences from Los Angeles officials and California leaders.
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass described the day as a painful one for the city, noting that multiple people had died in the two separate incidents in Chatsworth.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom also expressed sympathy for the victims and their families while thanking first responders who worked at both crash scenes.
The helicopter crash has also drawn attention to the dangers faced by television crews who routinely use aircraft to cover fires, traffic collisions, police incidents and other breaking news events.
News helicopters provide an important perspective during emergencies, but their crews operate in demanding conditions while attempting to deliver live information to audiences.
Investigation Into Deadly Crash Continues
The Chatsworth helicopter crash remains under investigation as federal and local authorities collect evidence.
Three people were killed in the helicopter incident, including Moreno, Marciniw and a person on the ground. Two other people were hospitalized.
The crash came on a particularly difficult evening for the Chatsworth community, following the deadly Metro bus collision earlier Tuesday.
For now, investigators have not determined why NewsChopper4 crashed. More information is expected as the NTSB and FAA examine the aircraft and surrounding evidence.
Authorities are expected to release additional findings as the investigation progresses.
The focus now remains on determining what happened, supporting the victims’ families and preserving evidence that could help explain how the Chatsworth helicopter crash occurred.
