On September 15, 2026, a Eurocopter operating for NBC4 Los Angeles, and Telemundo 52 crashed in Chatsworth, California. Killing the crew, and a person on the ground. The helicopter was covering a fatal collision between an SUV, and a Metro bus when the helicopter went down shortly before 7 p.m. near North Mason Avenue.
Live Coverage Turns into a Tragic Crash:
The crash was captured live on air — NBC4, and Telemundo 52 were left scrambling for answers, with no access to the exact scene as police pushed reporters back. Ground reporter Robert Kovacik — A longtime NBC4 reporter, was already at the crash scene —When the helicopter went down a few blocks away. In the first few minutes he said on air, “We don’t know where the chopper is from, we don’t know if it even is a chopper, we don’t know if it’s a news chopper.” Robert Kovacik also mentioned seeing a colleague from another station in tears — Multiple news helicopters were overhead, so the confusion was real until NBC4 confirmed it was their own NewsChopper4. Somewhere along the route — The aircraft spiraled out of control and crashed into containers between two commercial buildings.
https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2026-09-16/nbc4-helicopter-crew-were-socal-news-veterans
The Crew Behind the Broadcast:
Reporter Eliana Moreno, graduated from Chapman University — Where she built her career doing in-field reporting from the air. Viewers knew her voice and face from years of, live in the field helicopter work. Pilot George Marciniw, with more than 30 years of experience was planning on retiring soon — Both worked for Angel City Air, the operator of the helicopter. Their deaths shook the Los Angeles community, among journalists who recognized how familiar Eliana Moreno’s presence had become.
https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2026-09-17/nbc4-chopper-why-did-it-crash
Investigators Still Searching for Answers:
The National Transportation Safety Board, is leading an active investigation into what caused the helicopter to crash. As of now, no probable cause has been determined — Investigators are still combing through the wreckage. The crash has raised broader questions about low-altitude news flights overcrowded cities and officials are still working to determine exactly what happened.
https://www.cnn.com/2026/09/17/us/la-helicopter-crash-victims
Readers can follow updates from the NTSB at:
https://www.ntsb.gov/Pages/home.aspx
Readers can also follow updates from NBC Los Angeles at:
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