{"id":850227,"date":"2026-09-16T21:42:11","date_gmt":"2026-09-16T21:42:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/850227\/"},"modified":"2026-09-16T21:42:11","modified_gmt":"2026-09-16T21:42:11","slug":"what-to-know-about-the-victims-of-the-nbc-los-angeles-news-helicopter-crash","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/850227\/","title":{"rendered":"What to know about the victims of the NBC Los Angeles news helicopter crash"},"content":{"rendered":"

Tributes began pouring in Wednesday after a news helicopter crashed in Los Angeles, leaving three people dead.<\/p>\n

The crash occurred just before 7 p.m. local time Tuesday in the Chatsworth area of the San Fernando Valley<\/a>, as the news chopper was covering a road traffic accident. <\/p>\n

Angel City Air operated the helicopter, which was providing news coverage for NBC Los Angeles. <\/p>\n

The victims aboard the helicopter were identified as Eliana Moreno, a journalist familiar to viewers of the station and its Spanish-language sister station, Telemundo 52, and pilot George Marciniw. The pair began flying together in 2023.<\/p>\n

A pedestrian on the ground was also confirmed to have died at the scene, officials said. Authorities identified the third victim as Edy Guti\u00e9rrez Mejia, 29.<\/p>\n

Zareh Sevanesian, who witnessed the crash, said the helicopter was swaying before it started losing altitude. <\/p>\n

\u201cIt was just getting lower and lower and lower and lower,\u201d he said on NBC\u2019s \u201cTODAY\u201d show. <\/p>\n

NBC Los Angeles and Telemundo 52 issued a joint statement<\/a> expressing condolences for the pair.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe are deeply saddened to share that a helicopter providing aerial news coverage for NBC4 and Telemundo 52 was involved in a fatal accident in Los Angeles on Tuesday evening,\u201d the stations said. \u201cWe extend our heartfelt condolences to the families, friends and colleagues of those who lost their lives.\u201d<\/p>\n

Eliana Moreno<\/p>\n

Moreno, 38, was born in Orange County, south of Los Angeles.<\/p>\n

She graduated from Chapman University in Orange, with a double degree in broadcast journalism and social science in 2010, according to the university.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe are grateful to know that she went on to pursue her passion for journalism and storytelling as a reporter,\u201d university spokesman Bob Hitchcock said in a statement Wednesday.<\/p>\n

\u201cOur hearts go out to Eliana\u2019s family, friends, colleagues, and all those who knew and worked with her,\u201d Hitchcock continued. \u201cWe extend our deepest condolences to everyone mourning her loss.\u201d<\/p>\n

Moreno joined Angel City Air\u2019s helicopter team the same year and has reported for multiple Southern California news outlets since.<\/p>\n

A seasoned aerial journalist who also reported in Spanish, Moreno was known on her official Instagram account as \u201cEli in the heli\u201d due to her work. There, she shared pictures of her chickens and pet dogs and, last year, a video of her engagement to Robert Barrientos. <\/p>\n

He did not immediately respond to NBC News\u2019 request for comment. The pair ran a half-marathon together in May, after which she wrote<\/a>: \u201cI surpassed everything I thought I could ever do so let\u2019s see what I do next!\u201d<\/p>\n

Moreno also frequently shared images of herself in the news chopper, covering stories on the go, with one caption reading, \u201cI have the best job in the world.\u201d <\/p>\n

\u201cShe was just such a light, such a spark plug. She\u2019s teeny tiny. Tiny, but she had the biggest heart and enthusiasm,\u201d Lynette Romero, co-anchor of NBC Los Angeles\u2019 morning newscast, said of her colleague. \u201cIt was really contagious.\u201d<\/p>\n

Veteran NBC Los Angeles anchor Colleen Williams paid tribute to \u201cdear colleagues\u201d while on air Tuesday evening. Visibly emotional, she told viewers: \u201cWe are coming on the air with heavy hearts tonight because we lost valued friends and colleagues … while on assignment tonight.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"\/<\/p>\n

\u201cWe are going to take a couple of minutes to think about that, process it,\u201d she added, her voice shaking.<\/p>\n

Romero said they were \u201cheartbroken\u201d and are thinking of the families of Moreno and Marciniw. <\/p>\n

\u201cThey were both doing what they loved so much, and for me, that\u2019s comfort in knowing how happy they were. They loved breaking news, and they loved being in NewsChopper4,\u201d she said Wednesday on NBC\u2019s \u201cTODAY\u201d show.<\/p>\n

\"Image:Eliana Moreno and George Marciniw.via FacebookGeorge Marciniw<\/p>\n

Marciniw also grew up in Southern California, where he graduated from Burbank High School in 1974, according to NBC Los Angeles.<\/p>\n

Marciniw is believed to have had more than 30 years of flight experience<\/a>. He often shared sunsets and scenic pictures from the area on what he dubbed a \u201cnews cruise\u201d in the helicopter.<\/p>\n

He often credited pictures on his Instagram page to his companion and colleague Moreno.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd that\u2019s a wrap for Friday night as the heavy fog rolls in with Eliana Moreno,\u201d he wrote, sharing an image of the chopper. In another, he posted a picture of the Dodgers\u2019 stadium lit up brightly at night, captioned: \u201cA few shots Eliana took as we flew over Dodgers after the game. \u2018Go Dodgers.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n

Morning anchors paid tribute to their fallen colleague on Wednesday, praising Marciniw for his experience, professionalism and dedication.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen you thought about NewsChopper4 you thought about George,\u201d said KNBC meteorologist Belen De Leon.<\/p>\n

Tuesday night, fellow helicopter pilot Esteban Jimenez, who was at the scene of the crash, said Marciniw was nearing retirement. The two last talked over the weekend, Jimenez told NBC Los Angeles.<\/p>\n

\u201cI knew him since the 90s. He was my instructor at one time, he was my eyes and ears here in L.A.,\u201d Jimenez said. \u201cI just cannot believe this.\u201d<\/p>\n

Many online paid tribute to Marciniw, detailing his professionalism and fun-loving spirit. \u201cFly high in the great beyond,\u201d one person wrote. \u201cTotal utter disbelief,\u201d another wrote.<\/p>\n

Edy Fernando Guti\u00e9rrez Mejia<\/p>\n

Mejia, better known as \u201cPichi\u201d to loved ones, lived in Cuilapa, a town of some 41,000 people in southeastern Guatemala, and had been only in town for two days before tragedy struck, NBC Los Angeles reported.<\/p>\n

He had planned to pick up a car and take it home to sell, his cousin told NBC Los Angeles. Now, his family is working to send his body back to Guatemala.<\/p>\n

\u201cMay God give you the rest you deserve,\u201d read a tribute to Mejia on Facebook. \u201cA big hug all the way to heaven. We shared so many good times, there\u2019s so much I miss.\u201d<\/p>\n

Mejia shared photos of himself playing soccer, traveling and sharing time with loved ones on social media. <\/p>\n

\u201cWe offer our prayers for eternal rest and ask our Lord God to grant the family much patience during these moments of sorrow,\u201d the Cuilapa mayor\u2019s office said in a Facebook statement.<\/p>\n

The National Transportation Safety Board and the Federal Aviation Administration said it will begin investigating the cause of the helicopter crash.<\/p>\n