Three killed after news helicopter crashes while covering Los Angeles bus collision

Three people were killed and two others taken to hospital after a news helicopter crashed in Chatsworth, Los Angeles, on Tuesday, 15 September, while covering a deadly collision between a Los Angeles Metro bus and a passenger vehicle. 

The helicopter was NBC Los Angeles' NewsChopper4, also used by Spanish-language sister station Telemundo 52, and was operated by Angel City Air.

NBC Los Angeles identified the two people aboard the helicopter who died as aerial photojournalist Eliana Moreno and pilot George Marciniw. A third person, believed to have been on the ground, was also killed.

The aircraft crashed shortly before 7 p.m. local time in a parking area near a self-storage facility in Chatsworth, in Los Angeles' San Fernando Valley, according to the Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD).

The impact triggered a fire that spread to four vehicles and two storage containers. More than 70 firefighters responded to the scene.

Helicopter was covering earlier crash

The aircraft was among several news helicopters covering a bus collision on Nordhoff Street earlier that evening.

The Los Angeles Metro bus crash occurred at about 5:03 p.m., killing two people and injuring six others, the LAFD said. Firefighters worked to free trapped people and assess passengers.

During emotional live coverage, NBC4 anchor Colleen Williams confirmed that the station had lost contact with the helicopter crew. 

“We knew it was a news chopper, we knew we’d lost contact with our people out there, and we’ve just received the confirmation that, in fact, NewsChopper 4 went down just before 7 o’clock tonight in Chatsworth,” Williams said.

Investigation under way

Fire Capt. Branden Silverman said one of the people killed appeared to have been outside the helicopter when it crashed. Fire Battalion Chief Rico A. Gross later confirmed three deaths and said two people had been taken to hospital. Their conditions were not immediately available.

Witness Zareh Sevanesian said he saw the helicopter gradually lose altitude before pulling over near the crash.

“I saw the helicopter — something didn’t look right. And I told my wife, ‘That helicopter is not flying right,’” he said.

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass described the incident as “a heartbreaking night for our city”, while California Governor Gavin Newsom offered condolences to the victims' families and the NBC4 team.

The National Transportation Safety Board and Federal Aviation Administration will investigate the crash.