Helicopter crash in Chatsworth kills three, including NBC4 crew

Newly released video shows the final moments before a news helicopter crashed in Chatsworth on Tuesday night, resulting in the deaths of its two-person crew and a man on the ground. The footage, obtained by NBCLA from a nearby building, captures the Airbus helicopter hovering over an intersection before it abruptly loses altitude and descends toward the ground. The helicopter was covering a previous crash involving an SUV and a Metro bus when it went down in the parking lot of a self-storage business. The victims include reporter Eliana Moreno, 38, and pilot George Marciniw, along with 29-year-old Edy Gutierrez Mejia, who was on the ground. The Radio & Television News Association of Southern California expressed condolences, highlighting Moreno's 16-year career in aerial journalism. The new video provides a partial view of the descent, with flames and smoke visible after the crash, as emergency crews arrived shortly thereafter. Federal investigators are examining the crash to determine if an engine or mechanical failure occurred, noting that the helicopter did not simply run out of fuel. Smoke was seen approximately 20 seconds after impact, with flames appearing about 50 seconds post-crash. A candlelight vigil was held at St. John Eudes Parish in Chatsworth to honor the victims. The NTSB has requested anyone with video from the scene to come forward as they investigate the incident. Wreckage from the helicopter has been transported to a facility in Phoenix, Arizona, for further examination.