Eliana Moreno and George Marciniw killed in NewsChopper4 crash

Aerial journalist Eliana Moreno and pilot George Marciniw died on Tuesday, September 15, in the crash of NewsChopper4 in Los Angeles. Their helicopter was covering another traffic accident in the Chatsworth neighborhood for NBC4 and Telemundo 52.

The aircraft crashed shortly before 7:00 pm in a commercial area, approximately 1.6 kilometers from the collision between a vehicle and a bus that it was following from the air. The impact caused a fire that damaged several vehicles and containers, according to NBC Los Angeles.

Eliana Moreno, a journalist and aerial camerawoman, and George Marciniw, an experienced pilot, both worked for the operator Angel City Air. A third person on the ground was also killed, though their identity had not been made public by Wednesday morning.

NBC4 announced the loss of its crew during its live broadcast. Anchor Colleen Williams explained on air that the newsroom had lost contact with the helicopter before confirming the crash. The network and Telemundo 52 later extended their condolences to the families, friends, and colleagues of the victims.

The cause of the accident remains unknown. The National Transportation Safety Board and the Federal Aviation Administration have opened an investigation, according to reports from the Associated Press and Reuters. No specific mechanical failure or human error has been officially attributed at this stage.

Moreno had been involved in aerial coverage for several Southern California media outlets since 2010. She had been flying with Marciniw since 2023, NBC4 noted. The Los Angeles Times highlighted that their colleagues continued the special broadcast despite the announcement of their colleagues’ deaths.