KNBC-TV News Helicopter Crashes in Chatsworth, Killing Aerial Journalist, Pilot, and Person on Ground
Why It MattersThe crash puts renewed scrutiny on operational safety standards and equipment reliability across the electronic news-gathering helicopter segment of commercial aviation.
A news helicopter operated by Angel City Air for NBC 4 (KNBC-TV) and Telemundo 52 crashed in a commercial area of Chatsworth, Los Angeles, on Tuesday evening, killing aerial journalist Eliana Moreno, pilot George Marciniw, and a person on the ground.
The aircraft, a Eurocopter AS350 B2, went down shortly before 7:00 PM local time in a parking area between commercial buildings on North Mason Avenue, striking storage containers and setting nearby vehicles on fire. The Los Angeles Fire Department confirmed the crash and said firefighters contained the blaze, and surrounding buildings were not struck.
The helicopter had been providing aerial coverage of a separate fatal collision involving a Metro bus and an SUV when it began losing altitude. Moreno and Marciniw were the only people aboard. Video transmitted from the helicopter during its final moments captured multiple alarms followed by Moreno asking, "You can't pull up?" before the recording ends shortly after. Investigators have not yet determined whether the alarms were linked to an engine problem or another system failure, and witnesses on the ground said the helicopter appeared to be swaying before gradually descending out of view.
NBC Los Angeles said Moreno and Marciniw had worked together since 2023, covering wildfires, police pursuits, and other breaking news across Southern California. The National Transportation Safety Board is leading the investigation, with the Federal Aviation Administration also involved, and investigators will examine the wreckage, maintenance history, and flight data before identifying a cause.
