News helicopter crash in Los Angeles kills journalist, pilot, and one other

A news helicopter covering a fatal bus and SUV collision in Los Angeles tragically crashed on Tuesday evening, killing three people. The Eurocopter AS350, operating as "News Chopper 4" for NBC4 and Telemundo 52, went down in the Chatsworth area of the San Fernando Valley around 7 PM local time, two hours after the initial bus crash it was covering.

Among those killed were aerial photojournalist and reporter Eliana Moreno and veteran pilot George Marciniw, both employees of Angel City Air, which operated the helicopter. A third person, a pedestrian on the ground near the crash site, also died and has not yet been identified. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) are investigating the unknown cause of the crash.

Preliminary analysis of video from inside the helicopter reportedly indicates the engine losing power and a warning alarm sounding about the main blades slowing down just before impact. The incident unfolded as news crews were already on the scene of the earlier bus collision, which had killed two people.