A news helicopter covering a deadly bus collision crashed Tuesday evening in the Chatsworth neighborhood, killing two people aboard and a third person on the ground.
NBC4 identified the crew members as aerial journalist Eliana Moreno and pilot George Marciniw. Their helicopter, operated by Angel City Air, was providing coverage for NBC4 and Telemundo 52 when it went down shortly before 7 p.m. The person killed on the ground has not been publicly identified.
The crew had been reporting on a collision between an SUV and a Metro bus nearby. The Los Angeles Fire Department reported that two people died at that scene and six others were taken to hospitals. The helicopter crashed near North Mason Avenue, between two commercial buildings.
The impact sparked a fire that damaged four vehicles and two storage containers. Firefighters extinguished the blaze. The department said one person was taken to a hospital after the helicopter crash; NBC4 later reported that two people had been hospitalized. Their conditions were not known. Los Angeles Fire Department, NBC Los Angeles
“We extend our heartfelt condolences to the families, friends and colleagues of those who lost their lives,” NBC4 and Telemundo 52 said in a joint statement.
Order Jonathan Cahn’s New Book, “The Altar of Pergamon” on Amazon.com!
The Federal Aviation Administration identified the aircraft as a Eurocopter AS350. The FAA and National Transportation Safety Board are investigating, with the NTSB leading. Authorities have not determined what caused the crash.
Let us pray for every family grieving these deaths, for those injured in both crashes and for the colleagues and first responders shaken by a tragic day in Chatsworth.
James Lasher, a seasoned writer and editor at Charisma Media, combines faith and storytelling with a journalism background from Otterbein University and ministry experience in Guatemala and at the LA Dream Center. A Marine Corps and Air Force veteran, he is the author of The Revelation of Jesus: A Common Man’s Commentary and a contributor to Charisma magazine. For interviews and media inquiries, please contact [email protected].
