Tragedy Strikes Local News as NBC Helicopter Crashes

WHO:

CNN - Eliana Moreno graduated from Chapman University in 2010 with a degree in broadcast journalism and political science.

CNN - Moreno received an award from the Radio and Television News Association of Southern California for “Best TV Continuing Coverage” in 2023.

CNN - George Marciniw was a helicopter flight instructor for over 30 years and had flown 14,000 hours.

CNN - Edy Gutierrez Mejia, known as “Pichi,” was from the town of Cuilapa in southeastern Guatemala.

CNN - Eliana Moreno, an aerial photojournalist-reporter, was engaged to be married.

CNN - George Marciniw, a veteran pilot, was planning on retiring soon.

CNN - Edy Gutierrez Mejia, a 29-year-old pedestrian from Guatemala, was fatally struck by the helicopter.

NY Post - Zoey Tur, a former KCBS and KNBC pilot-reporter with more than 10,000 flight hours, analyzed audio and video of the final moments of the helicopter.

NBC News - The helicopter involved was operated by NBC Los Angeles.

NY Post - The crash has impacted the local news community in Los Angeles.

WHAT:

NBC News - The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating the helicopter's maintenance records and studying dashcam video of the crash.

NBC News - The NTSB is asking for eyewitnesses to come forward regarding the crash.

CNN - The helicopter crashed while providing coverage of a fatal bus collision in Chatsworth, approximately 25 miles northwest of downtown Los Angeles.

CNN - At least two others were taken to the hospital with injuries.

CNN - The National Transportation Safety Board is leading a probe into the wreck, with a preliminary report available in 30 days and a final report that can take up to 18 months.

ABC News Business - Los Angeles has been a city viewed from above by news helicopters for nearly seven decades.

NY Post - Tur revealed that a five-second decision may have led to the deadly NBC chopper tragedy.

NBC News - A helicopter crash occurred, resulting in fatalities.

NY Post - The incident is described as a "fatal LA local news helicopter crash."

WHERE:

NBC News - The crash took place in Los Angeles, California.

WHEN:

NY Post - The article mentions the crash as a recent event but does not provide a specific date.

WHY:

NBC News - The cause of the crash has not been detailed in the articles.

HOW:

NBC News - The NTSB is looking into a number of potential factors that led to the helicopter crash.

CNN - Video from the helicopter included sounds of the engine losing power and a warning alarm alerting the pilot to the main blades slowing down.

NBC News - The television news helicopters have been fixtures of the city’s sky for decades, symbolizing a hard-driving but close-knit media market in Los Angeles.

NBC News - The helicopter crash is noted as a significant event in the history of local news helicopters in Los Angeles, which have been a part of the city's media landscape for decades.

NBC News - The helicopter was part of a long-standing tradition of news helicopters in the Los Angeles area.

(UPDATED September 17, 2026 13:04 UTC)

The National Transportation Safety Board is currently investigating the helicopter crash, focusing on maintenance records and reviewing dashcam video from the incident. They are also seeking eyewitnesses to come forward as they explore various potential factors that may have contributed to the crash. Among those involved was George Marciniw, a seasoned helicopter flight instructor with over 30 years of experience and 14,000 flight hours.

--

(UPDATED September 17, 2026 07:59 UTC)

A tragic helicopter crash occurred while covering a fatal bus collision in Chatsworth, resulting in the death of 29-year-old Edy Gutierrez Mejia from Guatemala. The helicopter's pilot, George Marciniw, was planning to retire soon, and aerial photojournalist Eliana Moreno was engaged to be married. At least two others were hospitalized with injuries, and the National Transportation Safety Board is investigating the incident, with a preliminary report expected in 30 days and a final report that may take up to 18 months.

--

(UPDATED September 17, 2026 07:10 UTC)

Los Angeles has been a city captured from above by news helicopters for nearly seven decades. This aerial perspective has provided viewers with a unique look at the sprawling metropolis and its vibrant landscape. As technology evolves, the way we experience and understand urban environments continues to change.

--

(UPDATED September 17, 2026 00:01 UTC)

Zoey Tur, a seasoned pilot-reporter with over 10,000 flight hours, has analyzed the audio and video from the final moments of the tragic NBC helicopter incident. Tur revealed that a critical five-second decision may have played a significant role in the disaster. For decades, television news helicopters have been a familiar sight in the skies of Los Angeles, representing the city's dynamic yet tightly connected media landscape.

--

(UPDATED September 16, 2026 19:02 UTC)

A helicopter crash in Los Angeles has been marked as a significant event in the history of local news helicopters, which have been a staple of the city's media landscape for decades. This incident highlights the ongoing role that aerial news coverage plays in reporting on events across the region. As the investigation unfolds, more details are expected to emerge about the circumstances surrounding the crash.

--

(UPDATED September 16, 2026 18:00 UTC)

A tragic helicopter crash in Los Angeles, operated by NBC Los Angeles, has resulted in fatalities and has deeply impacted the local news community. This incident, described as a "fatal LA local news helicopter crash," highlights the long-standing tradition of news helicopters in the area. While the specific cause of the crash has not been detailed, it marks a somber moment for those in the journalism field.