You would think a crash means a rookie mistake, but that is not what happened here. The pilot had logged more than 14,000 hours in the air, according to reports. That is a lifetime of flying, yet the NewsChopper4 plunged to the ground on Tuesday night. The station’s helicopter was hovering near Nordhoff Street when it suddenly lost altitude. It crashed in Chatsworth, California, right near a deadly bus collision.
The victims are now known to be Eliana “Eli” Moreno and pilot George Marciniw. Known on Instagram as “Eli in the Heli”, Moreno served as a veteran aerial reporter. She had been flying in news choppers since 2010. She covered police pursuits, brush fires, and traffic from the sky. Her career started right after she graduated from Chapman University in 2010. She joined NBC around 2018 or 2019 to fly aboard NewsChopper4.
The crash erupted into a massive fire that set several nearby cars ablaze. Firefighters rushed to the scene to find the wreckage burning between two commercial buildings. According to the Los Angeles Fire Department, at least three people were killed. A pedestrian outside the helicopter at impact was likely one of the victims.
I’m on scene in Chatsworth receiving updates from LAFD and our public safety officials. I’m grateful to the first responders working through an incredibly difficult situation tonight. My thoughts are with everyone impacted by these tragedies, including the entire NBC4 family. pic.twitter.com/Glulz5XRz8
— Mayor Karen Bass (@MayorOfLA) September 16, 2026
Longtime NBC4 anchor Colleen Williams tearfully stated, according to the New York Post, “We have lost contact with our people.” She said this while covering the unfolding crash on air. The station released a statement late Tuesday expressing deep sadness. Heartfelt condolences were offered to the families, friends, and colleagues of the deceased.
“We are still searching the helicopter right now to determine how many people were on board,” LAFD spokesman Branden Silverman told reporters. This search happened while crews dealt with the bus crash nearby. That bus collision had already killed at least two people and injured six others.
A veteran TV helicopter pilot offered a grim assessment after reviewing the audio. Zoey Tur said the sound captured signs of an engine failure. Tur, who made history covering breaking news in Los Angeles, listened to the recording closely.
“If you listen, you could hear the low rotor RPM annunciator horn going off,” Tur posted after the crash, according to the New York Post.
Tur is a legendary figure who once worked alongside her then-wife Marika Gerrard. A high-speed police pursuit was first broadcast live by their team. They also filmed the 1992 beating of Reginald Denny and the O.J. Simpson Bronco chase. Tur earned multiple Emmy and Edward R. Murrow awards for this work.
Federal investigators are now examining the crash to find the truth. An investigation is being led by the National Transportation Safety Board. The Federal Aviation Administration will look at regulatory and licensing issues. Officials have not yet determined the final cause of the crash.
