Eliana Moreno and George Marciniw Killed in Chatsworth Helicopter Crash
A routine night of aerial news coverage turned into a devastating tragedy in Los Angeles on Tuesday, September 15, 2026.
An NBC4/Telemundo 52 news helicopter crashed in Chatsworth while its crew was covering a deadly Metro bus collision, killing aerial reporter Eliana Moreno, pilot George Marciniw, and a third person on the ground. Two other people were hospitalized, according to authorities and NBC4's reporting.
The helicopter, known as NewsChopper4, crashed shortly before 7 p.m. in the 9100 block of North Mason Avenue in Chatsworth, in Los Angeles' San Fernando Valley. The aircraft went down between commercial buildings and caught fire.
The tragedy has since become one of the most widely followed Los Angeles breaking-news stories, with searches surging around Eliana Moreno, NBC4, KNBC, NewsChopper4, George Marciniw and the Chatsworth helicopter crash.
Here is what we know so far.
🚨 What Happened in the Chatsworth Helicopter Crash?
The NBC4 helicopter was in the air covering an earlier deadly crash involving a Metro bus and an SUV in Chatsworth.
The helicopter was providing aerial coverage when it went down near a storage/business facility.
NBC4 reported that the helicopter crashed between two commercial buildings. The resulting fire damaged several vehicles and storage containers, while more than 70 firefighters responded to the scene.
Witnesses described seeing the helicopter appear to be moving unusually before losing altitude.
One witness told NBC4 that the aircraft appeared to be swaying before it descended and disappeared behind buildings.
Where did the helicopter crash?
The crash occurred in Chatsworth, a community in the San Fernando Valley area of Los Angeles.
The reported location was the 9100 block of North Mason Avenue, near commercial and storage properties.
Who Was Eliana Moreno?
Eliana Moreno was an aerial news reporter and photojournalist who worked with NBC4 and Telemundo 52.
She was known to Southern California viewers for her reporting from NewsChopper4, often providing aerial images of wildfires, police pursuits, breaking-news scenes and other major incidents.
NBC4 reported that Moreno earned a degree in broadcast journalism and political science from Chapman University. She began working in news helicopters in 2010 and had logged hundreds of hours flying with Marciniw.
NBC4 described Moreno as a familiar voice in the sky for its viewers.
She was also known online by the nickname “Eli in the heli.”
Her aerial reporting had taken her over some of Southern California's most significant breaking-news scenes, including major wildfires and police incidents.
Who Was George Marciniw?
George Marciniw was the pilot of NewsChopper4.
Marciniw was a longtime Southern California pilot who had extensive experience in aviation.
NBC4 reported that he grew up in Southern California and graduated from Burbank High School in 1974. He also worked as a flight instructor, helping aspiring pilots develop their aviation skills.
Moreno and Marciniw had been flying together since 2023 and frequently worked together during evening news coverage. NBC4 said the pair had become familiar figures to viewers who regularly watched aerial reports from Los Angeles.
Their professional partnership made the crash especially devastating for colleagues who had worked with them for years.
Who Was the Third Person Killed in the Crash?
Authorities initially said that a third person on the ground had died in the crash.
That person's identity was later reported as 29-year-old Edy Gutierrez Mejia, according to reporting citing the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner.
The helicopter came down in a business parking area, where the crash and subsequent fire also affected nearby vehicles and structures.
What Was the NBC4 Helicopter Doing Before the Crash?
This is one of the most important details of the story.
The helicopter was not flying randomly or for a training exercise.
NewsChopper4 was covering an earlier serious collision involving a Metro bus and an SUV in Chatsworth.
NBC4's helicopter crew was therefore performing the same type of aerial journalism that viewers regularly see during major Los Angeles breaking-news events.
The helicopter launched from a nearby airport at approximately 5:20 p.m., according to NBC4's reporting, and the signal was lost shortly before 7 p.m.
What Caused the Chatsworth Helicopter Crash?
The official cause has not yet been determined.
This is an important distinction because numerous theories can appear online after an aviation accident.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is leading the investigation, with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) involved. Investigators were expected at the crash scene Wednesday to begin examining the aircraft and circumstances surrounding the accident.
At this stage, there is no verified official finding establishing why the helicopter crashed.
Was there a mechanical problem?
There has been speculation in some reports about possible mechanical issues, but investigators have not established a definitive cause.
Until the NTSB investigation produces verified findings, readers should treat claims about mechanical failure, pilot error, weather or other possible causes as unconfirmed.
Witnesses Describe the Final Moments
People near the crash scene reported seeing the helicopter behaving unusually shortly before it went down.
One witness told NBC4 that the aircraft appeared to be swaying before gradually losing altitude. The witness then saw smoke and fire after the helicopter disappeared behind nearby buildings.
Other footage and reports have also drawn attention to the helicopter's final moments, but investigators will ultimately determine what the evidence shows.
For now, eyewitness observations should not be treated as an official explanation of the crash.
NBC4's Emotional Announcement
One of the most difficult moments came when NBC4 itself announced that its own helicopter had crashed.
Anchor Colleen Williams told viewers that the station had lost contact with its team in the air and later confirmed that NewsChopper4 had gone down.
NBC4's live coverage was visibly emotional as colleagues processed the loss of people they knew personally. Reuters reported that Williams announced the crash on air while expressing grief for the victims and their families.
For a newsroom accustomed to reporting tragedies across Los Angeles, the story suddenly became one of its own.
Why Eliana Moreno Was Important to Southern California Viewers
Aerial journalism is particularly important in Los Angeles.
From the sky, news helicopters can show the scale of:
- Wildfires
- Major traffic collisions
- Police pursuits
- Flooding
- Road closures
- Large emergency responses
- Breaking-news scenes
Moreno regularly provided that perspective for NBC4 and Telemundo 52.
NBC4 reported that she and Marciniw had worked together on hundreds of hours of aerial coverage since beginning their partnership in 2023.
Their work often placed them above some of Southern California's most chaotic and dangerous situations so viewers could see what was happening in real time.
Eliana Moreno Age: What Is Publicly Reported?
Searches for “Eliana Moreno age” have increased following the crash.
NBC4's current profile and reporting focus on her career, education and work as an aerial journalist. Other outlets have reported an age, but because personal biographical details can vary between sources, TimesOfUs is not treating an unverified age as established fact.
What is well documented is her journalism career, her Chapman University education and her work with NBC4/Telemundo 52.
What Happens Next in the Investigation?
The investigation will now shift from emergency response to accident reconstruction.
Investigators are expected to examine:
- The helicopter wreckage
- Flight and maintenance records
- Communications and available video
- Weather conditions
- The aircraft's mechanical systems
- Pilot and operational history
- Witness accounts
- The circumstances surrounding the aerial assignment
The NTSB and FAA will work to establish what happened before the helicopter lost control and crashed.
When will the cause be known?
There may be preliminary information relatively soon, but a complete aviation investigation can take substantially longer.
For that reason, early reports should be considered preliminary until investigators release verified findings.
NBC4 Helicopter Crash: Key Facts at a Glance
| Detail | What we know |
|---|---|
| Date | September 15, 2026 |
| Location | Chatsworth, Los Angeles, California |
| Helicopter | NewsChopper4 |
| Operator | Angel City Air |
| News organizations | NBC4 / Telemundo 52 |
| Reporter killed | Eliana Moreno |
| Pilot killed | George Marciniw |
| Third victim | Edy Gutierrez Mejia, 29 |
| Investigation | NTSB + FAA |
| Cause | Not yet determined |
| Assignment | Covering a deadly Metro bus collision |
Sources: NBC4 Los Angeles, Reuters, ABC7 and AP reporting.
Was This the Same Crash NBC4 Was Covering?
No.
This is an important detail.
The NBC4 helicopter was covering an earlier Metro bus/SUV collision when the helicopter itself crashed.
So Chatsworth was dealing with two separate deadly incidents on the same evening: the original roadway collision and the subsequent NewsChopper4 crash.
That connection is one reason the story unfolded so rapidly and created such a difficult situation for local news crews.
What We Know — and What We Don't
Confirmed
- NewsChopper4 crashed in Chatsworth.
- Eliana Moreno was aboard.
- George Marciniw was the pilot.
- Both died.
- A third person on the ground died.
- The third victim was identified as Edy Gutierrez Mejia.
- The helicopter was covering a nearby deadly crash.
- NTSB and FAA are investigating.
- The official cause has not been determined.
Still under investigation
- Why the helicopter lost altitude
- Whether a mechanical problem was involved
- Whether weather played a role
- Whether any operational factor contributed
- The complete sequence of events before impact
Until investigators release findings, claims about the cause remain unconfirmed.
FAQs About the Eliana Moreno and NBC4 Helicopter Crash
Who was Eliana Moreno?
Eliana Moreno was an aerial journalist and photojournalist who worked with NBC4 and Telemundo 52 in Los Angeles. She was known for reporting from NewsChopper4.
Who was the pilot of the NBC4 helicopter?
The pilot was George Marciniw, a longtime Southern California pilot and flight instructor.
Where did the NBC4 helicopter crash?
The helicopter crashed in Chatsworth, in the San Fernando Valley area of Los Angeles, near North Mason Avenue.
How many people died in the Chatsworth helicopter crash?
Three people died: Eliana Moreno, George Marciniw and Edy Gutierrez Mejia.
What was the NBC4 helicopter doing?
NewsChopper4 was providing aerial coverage of an earlier deadly Metro bus/SUV collision in Chatsworth.
What caused the helicopter crash?
The cause has not yet been officially determined. The NTSB and FAA are investigating.
Was NewsChopper4 operated by NBC4?
NBC4 reported that NewsChopper4 was owned and operated by Angel City Air and provided aerial coverage for NBC4 and Telemundo 52.
What is known about Eliana Moreno's career?
NBC4 reported that Moreno earned degrees in broadcast journalism and political science from Chapman University and began working in news helicopters in 2010.
The Bigger Story Behind NewsChopper4
For viewers, a news helicopter can seem almost invisible — a camera in the sky that suddenly appears whenever Los Angeles is dealing with a major emergency.
For journalists like Eliana Moreno and George Marciniw, however, that helicopter was their workplace.
They spent years flying over Southern California's wildfires, pursuits, accidents and other breaking-news events, bringing images from above to millions of viewers.
On September 15, 2026, while doing exactly that work, NewsChopper4 crashed in Chatsworth.
The investigation into what happened has only begun.
And as investigators work through the wreckage and evidence, colleagues, viewers and the Southern California journalism community are mourning two people who spent years helping others understand breaking news from the sky.
Comments
Post a Comment