Live / NTSB holds briefing on deadly Los Angeles news helicopter crash, tell me about this news in (https://www.nbcnews.com/video/watch-live-ntsb-holds-briefing-on-deadly-los-angeles-news-helicopter-crash-269986373737)
16-09-2026
On Tuesday evening, September 15, 2026, a news helicopter providing aerial coverage for NBC4 (KNBC) and Telemundo 52 crashed in the Chatsworth neighborhood of Los Angeles, California, resulting in three fatalities.
Key Details of the Crash:The Victims: The two occupants aboard the helicopter were killed: veteran pilot George Marciniw and aerial photojournalist/reporter Eliana Moreno. Both were longtime broadcast professionals employed by Angel City Air, which operated the aircraft for the stations. A third person on the ground was also killed when the helicopter crashed into an industrial parking area, and at least one other individual was transported to a local hospital.
The Mission: The helicopter (NewsChopper4, a Eurocopter AS350 B2) was in the air covering a fatal collision from earlier that afternoon in which an SUV struck a Los Angeles Metro bus.
The Incident: Shortly before 7:00 p.m. local time, the aircraft rapidly lost altitude and crashed between commercial buildings near Lurline Avenue and Nordhoff Street, erupting into flames upon impact and damaging several parked vehicles and storage containers. Moments before the video feed cut out, an alarmbelieved to be a low rotor RPM warning horncould be heard in the cockpit.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), assisted by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), launched a formal investigation to determine the probable cause:
Investigators arrived on scene to document the wreckage, examine the airframe, engine components, and flight controls, and gather radar, weather, and air traffic communication logs.
The team is reviewing the aircraft’s maintenance history and operator records from Angel City Air.
Investigators are analyzing audio and video feeds recorded during the live broadcast leading up to the descent to determine whether mechanical failure, loss of engine power, or another factor caused the crash.
A preliminary factual report is expected within a few weeks, with a full determination of probable cause typically taking 12 to 24 months.