A deadly helicopter crash in Chatsworth, Los Angeles, has left three people dead, including NBC4 reporter Eliana Moreno and pilot George Marciniw. Investigators are examining live video and cockpit audio from the helicopter as they work to determine what caused the aircraft to suddenly lose altitude and crash.
Latest update: September 18, 2026
A deadly Los Angeles helicopter crash in Chatsworth has become the focus of a federal aviation investigation after an NBC4 news helicopter crashed while covering a separate fatal traffic collision on Tuesday, September 15.
The helicopter, an Eurocopter AS350, crashed at approximately 7 p.m. local time near 9151 N. Mason Avenue in Chatsworth, in the San Fernando Valley. The aircraft struck the ground in an industrial area between commercial buildings and caught fire.
Three people were killed: NBC4 aerial reporter Eliana Moreno, pilot George Marciniw and 29-year-old Edy Gutierrez Mejia, who was on the ground when the helicopter crashed. The Federal Aviation Administration’s preliminary accident information lists the aircraft as a destroyed Eurocopter AS350, registration N358TV, with three fatalities—one flight crew member, one passenger and one person on the ground.
What Happened in the Los Angeles Helicopter Crash?
The NBC4 helicopter was providing aerial coverage of a serious traffic collision in Chatsworth when it went down.
Earlier that evening, an SUV had collided with a Los Angeles Metro bus near Nordhoff Street and De Soto Avenue, killing two bus passengers and injuring others.
Several news helicopters were covering the developing story. The NBC4 aircraft was subsequently seen operating over the area before it suddenly descended and crashed several blocks away.
According to the Los Angeles Fire Department, firefighters responded to 9151 N. Mason Avenue after reports that a helicopter had gone down between commercial buildings. The crash caused a post-impact fire that damaged four vehicles and two storage containers. Firefighters eventually extinguished the blaze without the fire spreading to surrounding structures.
The FAA says the helicopter had two people aboard and that the FAA and National Transportation Safety Board would investigate, with the NTSB taking the lead.
Who Died in the Chatsworth Helicopter Crash?
The victims have been identified as:
Eliana Moreno
Eliana Moreno was an NBC4 aerial news reporter who had worked extensively in Southern California television news.
NBC Los Angeles said Moreno and pilot George Marciniw had worked together in the air for years, including coverage of major breaking-news events such as the January 2025 wildfires.
George Marciniw
George Marciniw was the pilot operating the helicopter for the news-gathering mission.
NBC Los Angeles described Moreno and Marciniw as a team that had logged hundreds of hours together covering news from the air.
Edy Gutierrez Mejia
The third victim was 29-year-old Edy Gutierrez Mejia, who was on the ground when the helicopter crashed.
The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner identified Mejia as the person killed on the ground. Family members later said he had arrived in Los Angeles from Guatemala earlier that day for a short business trip.
The circumstances surrounding the third victim underscore how dangerous the crash site became for people near the industrial property.
New Video Could Help Explain Why the Helicopter Crashed
One of the biggest developments in the investigation is the discovery and examination of video showing the helicopter’s final moments.
The NTSB has described the helicopter’s own live broadcast video as potentially the most important evidence recovered so far.
The recording captured the aircraft shortly before the crash and includes sounds that investigators believe may provide clues about changes in the helicopter’s engine or rotor system.
Investigators are seeking a pristine copy of the original recording so it can undergo detailed audio analysis.
The video appears to show the helicopter hovering or operating at relatively low altitude before it rapidly descended.
A warning sound can also be heard shortly before the crash.
The NTSB is examining whether those sounds indicate a mechanical or systems-related problem, but investigators have not yet announced a confirmed cause.
Did the Helicopter Have an Engine Failure?
This is one of the major questions surrounding the investigation.
Experts who reviewed publicly available video and audio have suggested that the sounds captured during the final moments could be consistent with a rapid change in engine speed or a low-rotor-RPM warning.
However, these are expert interpretations of available footage and audio—not an official determination of the cause.
The Los Angeles Times reported that aviation experts reviewing the recording heard what appeared to be mechanical changes immediately before a warning horn sounded. One possibility being examined is an engine-related problem, while hydraulic or other system problems have also been discussed by aviation experts.
The NTSB has not concluded that engine failure caused the crash.
Investigators will need to examine the wreckage, maintenance records, engine components, flight information, cockpit audio and other evidence before determining what happened.
NTSB Asks Public for More Video
Federal investigators are also asking members of the public to provide video that could help reconstruct the helicopter’s final flight.
The request is particularly important because the crash occurred in an area where surveillance cameras, smartphones and news crews may have captured portions of the aircraft’s flight.
NBC Los Angeles reported that investigators removed crash wreckage from the site Thursday while continuing their examination. The NTSB has asked anyone with potentially relevant video to contact investigators.
Additional recordings could help investigators establish the helicopter’s altitude, movement, speed and behavior immediately before impact.
Where Did the Los Angeles Helicopter Crash?
The helicopter crashed in Chatsworth, a neighborhood in the San Fernando Valley region of Los Angeles.
The reported crash location was:
9151 N. Mason Avenue, Chatsworth, California
The aircraft came down in an industrial/commercial area near a storage facility.
The impact damaged vehicles and storage containers and triggered a fire. According to LAFD, 56 firefighters responded to the incident, and the fire was completely extinguished.
The Helicopter Was Covering Another Deadly Crash
The helicopter tragedy occurred while the NBC4 crew was covering another serious incident.
Earlier on September 15, an SUV collided with a Metro bus in Chatsworth. Two bus passengers—Daniel Castillo, 46, and Gage Weida, 31—were killed.
The helicopter was covering the aftermath of that collision when it crashed.
The two tragedies therefore occurred within the same Chatsworth community on the same evening, resulting in five deaths overall.
SUV Driver Charged After Fatal Bus Collision
The investigation into the helicopter crash is separate from the criminal case involving the earlier bus collision.
Los Angeles County prosecutors announced that Bailee Lynn Rios, 36, was charged with two counts of second-degree murder in connection with the deaths of the two bus passengers.
Prosecutors allege that Rios was driving under the influence of drugs, entered the wrong side of the road and ran a red light before the collision.
She was being held on $4.1 million bail and was scheduled to appear in court Friday, according to an Associated Press report. The allegations are part of the criminal case and have not been adjudicated in court.
What Investigators Know About the Helicopter
The FAA’s preliminary accident information identifies the aircraft as a Eurocopter AS350, registration N358TV.
The FAA recorded the aircraft as destroyed and listed three fatalities: one flight crew member, one passenger and one person on the ground.
The agency classified the event as an accident occurring during flight and said the circumstances remained under investigation.
The NTSB is leading the investigation, with the FAA assisting.
What Caused the Los Angeles Helicopter Crash?
The official cause remains undetermined.
Investigators are examining several areas, including:
- Engine performance
- Rotor speed
- Possible mechanical failure
- Hydraulic or other aircraft-system problems
- Pilot response during the emergency
- Flight altitude and airspeed
- Aircraft maintenance history
- Cockpit warning signals
- Video and audio recorded during the final moments
- Aircraft wreckage and component condition
It is important not to describe any single theory as the confirmed cause until investigators release their findings.
NTSB Investigation: When Will We Know the Cause?
The NTSB has indicated that a preliminary report is expected within approximately 30 days.
That preliminary report should provide additional factual information about the accident, but it may not establish the final cause.
A complete accident investigation can take considerably longer. ABC News reported that the NTSB indicated a final report could take up to 18 months, depending on the complexity of the investigation.
That means readers should expect additional updates during the coming weeks and months rather than an immediate final explanation.
Community Holds Vigil for Five Victims
The Chatsworth community has begun mourning the victims of both crashes.
A vigil was scheduled to honor the five people who died in the two connected tragedies: Eliana Moreno, George Marciniw, Edy Gutierrez Mejia, Daniel Castillo and Gage Weida.
Memorials have also appeared near Whiteman Airport, where the NBC4 helicopter operated.
The deaths have prompted tributes from colleagues, friends, relatives and members of the local community.
Latest Los Angeles Helicopter Crash Update
As of September 18, 2026, the key confirmed developments are:
Three people died in the NBC4 helicopter crash.
The victims were reporter Eliana Moreno, pilot George Marciniw and 29-year-old Edy Gutierrez Mejia.
The helicopter was an Eurocopter AS350, identified by the FAA as registration N358TV.
The crash happened around 7 p.m. on September 15 in Chatsworth.
The aircraft was covering a separate fatal Metro bus collision.
The NTSB is leading the investigation and the FAA is assisting.
Investigators consider the helicopter’s live broadcast video and audio extremely important evidence.
New surveillance footage has emerged and investigators are seeking additional recordings.
The official cause of the crash has not been determined.
A preliminary NTSB report is expected in approximately 30 days.
What Happens Next?
The next major development is likely to come from the NTSB investigation.
Investigators will continue analyzing the helicopter wreckage and reviewing video, audio, maintenance information and other evidence.
The preliminary report could provide a clearer factual account of the aircraft’s condition and the circumstances immediately preceding the crash. However, readers should distinguish between preliminary findings and the final determination of probable cause.
America Newsline will continue following the Los Angeles helicopter crash investigation and update this story as investigators release verified information.
Frequently Asked Questions
What happened in the Los Angeles helicopter crash?
An NBC4 news helicopter crashed in Chatsworth, Los Angeles, on September 15, 2026, while covering a separate fatal bus collision. Three people were killed.
Who died in the Los Angeles helicopter crash?
The victims were NBC4 reporter Eliana Moreno, pilot George Marciniw and 29-year-old Edy Gutierrez Mejia, who was on the ground.
Where did the helicopter crash?
The crash occurred near 9151 N. Mason Avenue in Chatsworth, in Los Angeles’ San Fernando Valley.
What type of helicopter crashed?
The FAA identified the aircraft as a Eurocopter AS350, registration N358TV.
What caused the Los Angeles helicopter crash?
The cause has not been officially determined. Investigators are examining video, audio, wreckage and other evidence. Some aviation experts have discussed a possible engine or rotor-system problem, but this has not been confirmed by the NTSB.
Was the helicopter covering another accident?
Yes. The NBC4 helicopter was covering a deadly SUV-versus-Metro-bus collision in Chatsworth when it crashed. Two people died in that earlier collision.
Who is investigating the helicopter crash?
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is leading the investigation, with assistance from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
When will the NTSB release its report?
Investigators have indicated that a preliminary report is expected in approximately 30 days. A final determination of probable cause may take substantially longer.
Is there video of the helicopter’s final moments?
Yes. Video from the helicopter’s live broadcast and additional surveillance footage are being examined. The NTSB has described the helicopter’s recorded video as particularly important evidence.