A news helicopter covering a fatal traffic incident in Los Angeles
crashed Tuesday evening, leaving three people dead. The aircraft went
down in the Chatsworth area while crews were already responding to a
separate deadly Metro bus collision.
Reuters reported that journalist and photojournalist Eliana Moreno and
pilot George Marciniw were among those killed. Both worked for
helicopter operator Angel City Air, and a third person on the ground
also died.
The helicopter was working with NBC4 and Telemundo 52 and had been
providing aerial coverage of the earlier collision. Two additional
people were hospitalized after the aircraft went down and a fire broke
out at the crash site.
More than 70 firefighters responded to the scene, according to Los
Angeles authorities. Crews extinguished the fire while emergency
personnel secured the area and began the initial investigation.
The cause of the helicopter crash had not been determined as of early
Wednesday. Investigators are expected to examine the aircraft, flight
history, weather conditions and other evidence as they work to
determine what happened.
NBC4 acknowledged the loss during its broadcast, while California Gov.
Gavin Newsom offered condolences to the victims’ families and the
station community. Additional information is expected as authorities
identify the person killed on the ground and the investigation moves
forward.
