News Chopper 4 crashed in Chatsworth on Tuesday night just before 7 p.m., killing three people, including two crew members from NBC4 and one person in a parking lot, according to network reports and local coverage. The aircraft went down between two commercial buildings in the 9100 block of Mason Avenue while several news helicopters were overhead covering a separate, deadly collision involving a Metro bus in the area.
Confirmation of the Crash and Immediate Grief at NBC4
For two hours following the disaster, NBC4 anchors and reporters covered the evolving situation while informing viewers that the station had lost contact with its crew. Journalists fought back tears on air as they reported what they saw from the ground and in the air. At 9 p.m., veteran anchor Colleen Williams confirmed to viewers what many had suspected. “We received the confirmation that in fact News Chopper 4 went down just before 7 p.m. tonight in Chatsworth,” Williams said on air. After a brief pause for staff to process and regroup, live coverage resumed around 9:40 p.m. following a news conference near the crash site, where Williams delivered the final confirmation: “Our colleagues lost their lives this evening; they were in News Chopper 4.”
Victims Identified as Experienced Aerial Journalists
The crew on board News Chopper 4 consisted of Eliana Moreno and George Marciniw, whom NBC4 described as “the eyes and ears in the sky.” The pair had been flying together since 2023, covering major Southern California events including police pursuits and the 2025 L.A. County wildfires. Moreno, known as “Eli in the heli” on Instagram, grew up in Orange County, graduated from Chapman University with a degree in broadcast journalism and political science, had flown in news choppers since 2010, and was engaged to be married. Marciniw grew up in Southern California, graduated from Burbank High School in 1974, and worked as a flight instructor for aspiring pilots. According to his flight instructor profile, Marciniw spent more than 30 years instructing and had logged 14,000 hours of flight time, operating out of Whiteman Airport in Pacoima while affiliated with Pacific Rotorways Helicopter Training.
Investigation and Historical Context of Aviation Risks
The helicopter involved in the crash was operated by Angel City Air, according to NBC4. The exact cause of the accident remains unknown. Helicopters have long served as a vital part of news gathering in Southern California, helping chronicle brush fires, mass shootings, and police pursuits. The disaster marks another dark chapter in local aviation history, recalling the 1977 crash that killed Francis Gary Powers—a former U-2 spy plane pilot for the CIA who was working as a “Telecopter” reporter for KNBC—alongside cameraman George Spears when their aircraft ran out of fuel near the Sepulveda Dam. In a separate 2000 incident, a Fox 11 helicopter covering the Academy Awards crashed at Van Nuys Airport after the pilot reported a loss of hydraulic power.
Community Support and What May Happen Next
Following Tuesday night’s news conference near the site, local leaders and emergency personnel offered visible comfort to grieving journalists.
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