NBC helicopter crash in Chatsworth identified victims as reporter and pilot

NBC4 Los Angeles reporter Eliana "Eli" Moreno and pilot George Marciniw were identified as the two individuals aboard the station’s helicopter that crashed on Tuesday night in Chatsworth, resulting in three fatalities. Moreno was an experienced aerial reporter known as "Eli in the Heli" on Instagram, while Marciniw was a seasoned pilot with over 14,000 flight hours. The NewsChopper4 was hovering near Nordhoff Street to cover a separate Metro bus collision when it unexpectedly lost altitude and crashed. NBC4 and Telemundo 52 issued a statement expressing their sadness over the incident and extending condolences to the victims' families. The crash resulted in a significant fire that consumed the wreckage and ignited nearby vehicles as firefighters responded to the scene. NBC4 confirmed that the helicopter belonged to them. Longtime NBC4 anchor Colleen Williams reported on air that contact had been lost with the crew. The Los Angeles Fire Department confirmed that at least three individuals were killed, including a pedestrian outside the helicopter at the time of the crash. Moreno had been an aerial photojournalist and reporter for NBC4 Los Angeles and Telemundo 52 since 2010, covering various events from the air. She began her career shortly after graduating from Chapman University with degrees in broadcast journalism and political science. Moreno worked for KCAL 9 and KCBS 2 before joining NBC and flying with NewsChopper4 around 2018 or 2019. Following the news of the crash, tributes appeared on social media, honoring Moreno's legacy.