LOS ANGELES — Authorities and local media say three people are dead after an NBC4 news helicopter crashed in Chatsworth, with early reports identifying reporter Eliana Moreno and a pilot among the victims. Officials have not completed formal next-of-kin notifications for all names.
The Los Angeles Fire Department said two people aboard the aircraft and one bystander in a parking lot were killed. A fourth person was hospitalized. The crash occurred near Nordhoff Street and Mason Avenue while the crew was covering a deadly Metro bus collision.
What officials say
Mayor Karen Bass and first responders were expected to brief the public from the scene. The FAA and NTSB are investigating the cause, including flight path, mechanical factors, and operating conditions in the dense Los Angeles media airspace.
BREAKING: Reporter Eliana Moreno and pilot George Marciniw reportedly killed in the NBC4 helicopter crash in Los Angeles. LAFD confirms three dead total, two aboard the aircraft and one bystander. FAA and NTSB are investigating.
— Mario Nawfal (@MarioNawfal) September 16, 2026
Investigation ahead
News helicopters operate under strict rules after past midair collisions in the region. Investigators typically examine maintenance logs, weather, and coordination with other aircraft. Families of the victims and the station are expected to release formal statements once identities are confirmed on the record.
Further updates will depend on the NTSB’s preliminary findings and any hospital reports on the injured person.
