NBC4 News Helicopter Crash in Chatsworth Kills Three, Including Pilot and Photojournalist

Key points

• The crash occurred just before 7 p.m. in the 9100 block of North Mason Avenue in Chatsworth, Los Angeles.
• Three victims were killed: pilot George Marciniw, photojournalist Eliana Moreno, and a pedestrian on the ground. A fourth person was hospitalized.
• The helicopter was covering a separate, fatal collision between a Metro bus and an SUV that occurred earlier at 5:03 p.m. on Nordhoff Street.
• The crash site was a parking lot between two commercial buildings, resulting in a fire that damaged four vehicles and two storage containers.
• The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) are investigating the cause of the crash.

Background

This incident follows a pattern of aviation tragedies involving news and charter helicopters in recent months. In August 2026, a Telemundo executive was among seven killed in a charter helicopter crash in Kenya. Earlier in August, an Army Apache helicopter crashed in Texas, killing two soldiers. In 1977, KNBC reporter Francis Gary Powers died in a helicopter crash in Encino while covering brushfires. The current crash in Chatsworth adds to a series of high-profile aviation incidents in the region.

How outlets are covering it

NBC Los Angeles and NBC News confirmed the identity of the helicopter as NewsChopper 4 and named the two victims aboard: pilot George Marciniw and photojournalist Eliana Moreno. The Los Angeles Times reported that the crash occurred near a deadly Metro bus collision, emphasizing the chaotic scene with multiple news helicopters present. All sources agree on the death toll of three and the hospitalization of one. The Los Angeles Times noted that the helicopter was 'pretty well destroyed,' making identification difficult initially, while NBC News highlighted the emotional response from anchor Colleen Williams. Mayor Karen Bass and Governor Gavin Newsom both issued statements expressing condolences and praising first responders. The sources differ slightly in the timing of the bus crash (5:02 p.m. vs. 5:03 p.m.) but agree on the sequence of events.

Why it matters

The crash highlights the risks faced by news crews covering major incidents, particularly in urban environments. It also underscores the ongoing challenges of aviation safety in the Los Angeles area, where multiple helicopter crashes have occurred in recent months. The incident has drawn attention to the coordination between news organizations, emergency services, and regulatory bodies like the NTSB and FAA in investigating and responding to such tragedies.

What to watch

The NTSB and FAA will continue their investigation to determine the cause of the crash. NBC Los Angeles and Telemundo 52 have issued joint statements of condolence, and the station has paused live coverage to process the loss. The families of the victims are expected to receive support from the station and local authorities. Further details on the condition of the hospitalized individual and the exact cause of the crash are anticipated in the coming days.