Who was Eliana Moreno? NBC Los Angeles Aerial Reporter Dies in Helicopter Crash
Public concern and online tributes have centered on veteran aerial reporter Eliana Moreno after an NBC Los Angeles news helicopter crashed in Chatsworth while covering a fatal traffic collision on Tuesday.
Eliana Moreno, an aerial reporter for NBC Los Angeles, was among those killed when the station's NewsChopper 4 helicopter crashed in the Chatsworth area of Los Angeles while covering a separate traffic accident, NBC Los Angeles and other reports confirmed. The helicopter, operated by Angel City Air, crashed shortly before 7 p.m. on September 15, killing three people, according to a report.
Moreno was known for reporting from helicopters, providing aerial coverage of breaking news across Southern California. Her death was confirmed after initial uncertainty over who was aboard the aircraft. Los Angeles Helicopter Crash: 3 Killed While Covering Deadly Bus Collision.
Who Was Eliana Moreno?
Moreno was a Los Angeles-based helicopter reporter and aerial photojournalist who worked with NBC Los Angeles. Her role involved covering breaking news from the air, giving viewers a perspective of major incidents that could be difficult to capture from the ground.
Her professional background also included work in Southern California television news. Chapman University profiled Moreno in 2015, describing how she had developed an interest in aerial journalism at a young age. NBC Los Angeles has featured Moreno's reporting on breaking-news events, including incidents involving police pursuits and major traffic stories. Los Angeles Helicopter Crash Videos: NBC News Chopper Crashes While Covering Deadly Bus Accident in Chatsworth.
Eliana Moreno Was Covering a Nearby Crash
The NewsChopper 4 helicopter was covering an earlier collision involving an SUV and a Metro bus in Chatsworth when the aircraft crashed. The earlier road accident resulted in multiple deaths and injuries. Several television helicopters were in the area providing coverage when the NewsChopper 4 aircraft went down.
The helicopter crashed in the 9100 block of North Mason Avenue shortly before 7 p.m., according to the Los Angeles Fire Department. The aircraft caught fire after hitting the ground.
Pilot George Marciniw Also Killed
NBC Los Angeles confirmed that Moreno and pilot George Marciniw were among those killed in the crash. Marciniw was a veteran Southern California helicopter pilot with more than three decades of experience and had also worked as a flight instructor, according to reporting published after the crash. The identity of the third person killed had not been fully established in the initial reports.
Investigation Underway
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) are investigating the crash. Authorities have not yet determined what caused the helicopter to go down.
The crash severely damaged the helicopter and also caused a fire that affected vehicles and storage containers near the crash site. Emergency crews responded to the scene and transported injured people for medical treatment. The investigation is expected to examine the helicopter, flight circumstances and other available evidence to determine what happened before the aircraft crashed.
Aerial Journalism in Los Angeles
News helicopters are regularly used by Los Angeles television stations to cover wildfires, police pursuits, traffic accidents, natural disasters and other breaking events across the region.
Moreno's work placed her in that role, reporting from above while news crews on the ground covered the same incidents from different locations. Her death has prompted tributes from colleagues and officials as NBC Los Angeles and investigators work to establish the circumstances of the crash.
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(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Sep 16, 2026 12:56 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).
