Eliana Moreno and George Marciniw Obituary, Death – NBC4 Aerial Reporter and Veteran Pilot Killed in Chatsworth Helicopter Crash
The Southern California journalism community is mourning the deaths of aerial reporter Eliana Moreno and veteran helicopter pilot George Marciniw, who were killed when an NBC4 news helicopter crashed in the Chatsworth area of Los Angeles on Tuesday evening, September 15, 2026. NBC4 and Telemundo 52 confirmed that the two were among three people who died in the tragedy.
The helicopter, known as NewsChopper4 and operated by Angel City Air, was providing aerial coverage for NBC4 and Telemundo 52 when it went down shortly before 7 p.m. near North Mason Avenue. The crew had been covering a separate fatal collision involving a Los Angeles Metro bus when the helicopter crashed between commercial buildings and caught fire.
Authorities said a third person on the ground was also killed in the crash, while other people were hospitalized. The Federal Aviation Administration and National Transportation Safety Board are involved in the investigation, and the cause of the helicopter crash had not been determined.
Remembering Eliana Moreno
Moreno was a longtime Southern California aerial journalist and photojournalist who became a familiar presence for viewers watching breaking-news coverage from above.
Born in Orange County, Moreno graduated from Chapman University in 2010 with degrees in broadcast journalism and political science. She joined Angel City Air’s helicopter team that year and spent more than a decade covering major events across Southern California.
Known to many viewers through the social media identity “Eli in the Heli,” Moreno regularly shared aerial perspectives while reporting on wildfires, traffic collisions, police activity and other breaking stories.
She frequently worked alongside Marciniw, with the two beginning to fly together in 2023. Their partnership became a recognizable part of NBC4’s aerial reporting operation.
Colleagues remembered Moreno as a dedicated journalist who brought energy and commitment to her work. She was also recently engaged, and her death has prompted an outpouring of grief from colleagues, viewers and friends.
Remembering George Marciniw
Marciniw was a highly experienced Southern California helicopter pilot whose career included both aerial news work and flight instruction.
A graduate of Burbank High School’s class of 1974, Marciniw had deep connections to the region’s aviation community. Professional profiles have described him as a longtime helicopter flight instructor with extensive experience and thousands of hours in the air.
Marciniw and Moreno had worked together in the NewsChopper4 helicopter since 2023, covering breaking developments throughout Los Angeles and the surrounding communities.
Their work often placed them above some of Southern California’s most significant breaking-news scenes, allowing viewers to see fires, crashes, police operations and other major incidents from the air.
A Tragedy for Southern California Journalism
The crash has deeply affected NBC4 and Telemundo 52, whose teams were suddenly confronted with the loss of two colleagues while covering a breaking-news story.
In a joint statement, NBC4 and Telemundo 52 expressed their sorrow over the fatal accident and extended condolences to the families, friends and colleagues of those who died.
For years, Moreno and Marciniw worked together above Southern California, documenting events that mattered to the communities watching from the ground. Their deaths mark a devastating loss for the local journalism and aviation communities.
As the investigation continues, colleagues, friends and viewers are remembering Moreno and Marciniw for their professionalism, dedication and years of service. Their contributions to aerial journalism across Southern California will remain part of the legacy they leave behind.
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