A devastating helicopter crash in Chatsworth, Los Angeles, has claimed the lives of NBC4 aerial reporter Eliana Moreno, pilot George Marciniw, and a person on the ground. The NewsChopper4 went down shortly before 7 p.m. on September 15 while Moreno and Marciniw were providing aerial coverage of an earlier deadly collision involving a Metro bus and an SUV.

Disturbing footage captured during the live coverage shows the helicopter suddenly losing altitude. The camera begins shaking violently as the aircraft drops, and Moreno can be heard asking, “You can’t pull up?” moments before the recording ends. The NTSB has described the video as potentially crucial evidence and is analyzing the footage and audio as investigators work to determine what happened.

The helicopter crashed between commercial buildings and erupted into flames, prompting a major emergency response. The third victim on the ground was later identified as 29-year-old Edy Gutierrez Mejia. Two other people were hospitalized after the crash. NBC4 and Telemundo 52 later confirmed the aircraft belonged to their NewsChopper4 operation and issued condolences to the victims’ families, friends, and colleagues.

Moreno was a longtime aerial journalist who had worked with Angel City Air since 2010 and covered major Southern California stories from the sky. She and Marciniw had frequently worked together since 2023, making the loss especially painful for their colleagues. The NTSB and FAA are investigating, and authorities have not yet established the cause of the sudden descent. A preliminary report is expected within about 30 days, while the full investigation will take considerably longer. 💔