What to know about the victims of the NBC L.A. news helicopter crash, tell me about this news in (https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/nbcla-news-helicopter-crash-eliana-moreno-george-marciniw-tributes-rcna598071)
16-09-2026
An NBC Los Angeles (KNBC / NewsChopper 4) news helicopter crashed in the Chatsworth area of Los Angeles on the evening of September 15, 2026. The helicopter went down in a commercial parking lot while providing live aerial coverage of a fatal traffic collision between an SUV and a Metro bus nearby.The crash claimed three livesthe two crew members aboard the aircraft and a third individual who was on the groundwhile leaving another person injured and hospitalized.The Victims Aboard the Helicopter
- Eliana “Eli” Moreno (Aerial Reporter & Photojournalist)
- Role and Career: Moreno was a respected aerial reporter, camerawoman, and photographer for NBC4 Southern California and Telemundo 52. Viewers and followers also knew her by her handle, “Eli in the Heli.”
- Background: A Chapman University graduate with degrees in Broadcast Journalism and Political Science, Moreno aspired to be a television reporter from the age of 11. She joined Angel City Air in 2010 after reporting in both Spanish and English for Orange County outlets.
- Impact: Moreno was widely admired for her poise and dedication during high-stress coverage of major Southern California breaking news, including devastating wildfires, pursuits, and community emergencies. She frequently mentored aspiring journalists and guest-lectured at local schools and colleges. Colleagues remember her as an exceptional mentor, pioneer in airborne reporting, and a deeply passionate journalist.
- George Marciniw (Pilot)
- Experience: Marciniw was a veteran commercial helicopter pilot and flight instructor with over three decades of aviation experience and approximately 14,000 recorded flight hours.
- Aviation Background: Based out of Whiteman Airport in the San Fernando Valley, Marciniw operated Pacific Rotorways, where he trained both new and seasoned pilots alongside flying news missions for KNBC. Colleagues and peers in the Southern California aviation community regarded him as a highly skilled and seasoned aviator.
- In addition to Moreno and Marciniw, a third individual who was in the parking lot area died when the helicopter struck shipping containers and parked vehicles, which subsequently caught fire. Authorities have not yet publicly released the identity of the person killed on the ground. Another injured person was taken to an area hospital.
- The crash is under active federal investigation by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to determine the mechanical or environmental causes of the incident.