Three Killed in Los Angeles News Helicopter Crash, Including Reporter Eliana Moreno and Pilot George Marciniw

A news helicopter operated by Angel City Air crashed just before 7 p.m. local time on Tuesday in the Chatsworth area of Los Angeles while covering a road-traffic incident, killing three people. The victims were identified as Eliana Moreno, a journalist for NBC Los Angeles and its Spanish-language sister station Telemundo 52, pilot George Marciniw, and an unidentified pedestrian who died at the scene. The National Transportation Safety Board and the Federal Aviation Administration have opened an investigation into the cause of the accident.

Moreno, in her late 30s, was a graduate of Chapman University and had been with Angel City Air’s helicopter team since 2010, reporting for several Southern California outlets in both English and Spanish. Marciniw, a Southern California native, had more than three decades of flight experience and frequently shared aerial photographs on social media.

Witness Zareh Sevanesian told NBC’s “TODAY” program that the helicopter appeared to sway before descending rapidly. NBC Los Angeles and Telemundo 52 released a joint statement expressing condolences to the families, friends and colleagues of those killed.

"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 stations said.

Anchors Colleen Williams and Lynette Romero of NBC Los Angeles acknowledged the loss on air, noting the dedication of the deceased to their work.