Engaged reporter, pilot, tourist among victims of tragic LA helicopter crash

A helicopter crash in Los Angeles on Tuesday evening, September 15, tragically claimed the lives of three individuals, including an engaged reporter, a veteran pilot, and a young tourist. The aircraft, identified as a Eurocopter AS350 operated by Angel City Air for NBC4 and Telemundo 52, went down in the Chatsworth neighborhood while providing aerial coverage of a separate fatal bus collision.

Among the victims on board were Eliana Moreno, an aerial photojournalist and reporter known as "Eli in the Heli," who was engaged to be married, and pilot George Marciniw, who was reportedly planning to retire soon. The pair had been flying together since 2023. On the ground, Edy Gutierrez Mejia, a 29-year-old tourist from Guatemala who had arrived in Los Angeles just hours prior, was also fatally struck by the crashing helicopter.

Authorities reported that the helicopter crashed between two commercial buildings at a storage facility, resulting in a large fireball. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is currently investigating the incident, with early indications from helicopter video suggesting a loss of engine power and a warning alarm about the main rotor speed. At least two other individuals were hospitalized with injuries sustained during the crash.