Full coverage of the NewsChopper4 news helicopter crash in Los Angeles, with the first realization that it was a news helicopter that crashed and that the news desk was having trouble contacting their helicopter crew after the news station lost contact with their helicopter at elapsed time 18:56 (NBCLA 1:58:44). YouTube Tips ⓘ
Police, firefighters and paramedics from Los Angeles responded about 6:57 p.m. Tuesday, September 15, 2026 to a report of a helicopter crash at 9151 N Mason Avenue that occurred while the helicopter crew of two was providing aerial news coverage over the scene of a fatal extrication crash involving an SUV and an MTA public transportation bus at 20900 West Nordhoff Street in Chatsworth, which was about 2,000 feet southwest of the helicopter crash scene. Chatsworth is a suburban neighborhood in the San Fernando Valley, about 24 miles northwest of downtown Los Angeles, California.
Three people were killed when a news helicopter lost altitude and hit the ground in a fiery crash Tuesday evening in Los Angeles. The news helicopter, NBC NewsChopper4, was operating close to the site of a deadly bus crash with extrication that occurred earlier in the day. Video from the ground that panned from the SUV vs bus crash scene toward the helicopter crash scene showed a black smoke plume rising from the site of the crash.
NewsChopper4, was operated and maintained by helicopter service Angel City Air and the crew was providing aerial coverage for NBC4 and Telemundo 52. The two victims who died aboard the helicopter were identified as pilot George Marciniw and aerial reporter Eliana Moreno. The third victim killed was a pedestrian on the ground standing near a self-storage warehouse. A fourth person was hospitalized in unknown condition.
Eliana Moreno and George Marciniw had been flying together since 2023.
The cause of the chopper crash was initially unknown, but at least one witness saw the helicopter swaying and then lose altitude. The NTSB will lead the investigation. The NTSB confirmed that they are investigating the September 15 crash of a Eurocopter AS 350 B2 helicopter in Chatsworth, California.
The first arriving Los Angeles Fire Department unit at the SUV vs bus crash reported a collision between an MTA bus and a passenger vehicle with numerous injured patients. Firefighters extricated the trapped patients and assessed all passengers on the bus. According to the Los Angeles Fire Department, the collision resulted in a total of eight patients; with two victims deceased, and six patients transported to local hospitals. A Los Angeles Fire Department PIO was assigned to the scene on De Soto north of the intersection. The Mayor’s Crisis Response team was notified.
The Los Angeles Fire Department advised the crash scene intersection would be shut down for an unknown amount of time.
The helicopter crash occurred at about 6:57 p.m. The Los Angeles Fire Department immediately reported that an unknown make/type of helicopter had gone down between two commercial buildings. The fire from the crash exposed four vehicles to heat and flames. Firefighters were in offensive mode, attacking the fire and assessing patients and medical triage, according to the Los Angeles Fire Department.
Instagram report from the NBC TODAY show …
Los Angeles Fire Department Communications (most recent at top) …
The initial report of the SUV vs MTA bus crash was posted by LAFD at 5:20 p.m. PT.
The initial report of the helicopter crash was posted by LAFD at 7:12 p.m. PT.
AIRCRAFT CRASH/ CRASH IMMINENT; INC#1526; 06:57PM; 9151 N Mason Av; https://bit.ly/46mAgWl; Chatsworth; First arriving unit reports an unknown make/type of helicopter has gone down between two commercial buildings. Fire from the crash is exposing four vehicles. Firefighters are in offensive mode, attacking the fire and assessing patients and medical triage. LAPD INC#4127. ; FS 104; Batt 17; Valley Bureau; Council District 12; AC4 AC40 BC10 BC15 BC5 BC81 E104 E107 E227 E28 E287 E288 E296 E305 E70 E72 E88 EM15 EM17 HM87 HR703 PI1 PI4 RA104 RA72 RA96 RA98 SO1 T105 T27 T87 T88 T96 UR27 UR88; CH9; 14; Jennifer Middleton
AIRCRAFT CRASH/ CRASH IMMINENT; INC#1526; 06:57PM; 9151 N Mason Av; https://bit.ly/46mAgWl; Chatsworth; First arriving unit reports an unknown make/type of helicopter has gone down between two commercial buildings. Fire from the crash is exposing four vehicles. Firefighters are in offensive mode, attacking the fire and assessing patients and medical triage. LAPD INC#4127. ; FS 104; Batt 17; Valley Bureau; Council District 12; AC4 AC40 BC10 BC15 BC5 BC81 E104 E107 E227 E28 E287 E288 E296 E305 E70 E72 E88 EM15 EM17 HM87 HR703 PI1 PI4 RA104 RA72 RA96 RA98 SO1 T105 T27 T87 T88 T96 UR27 UR88; CH9; 14; Jennifer Middleton
Update PHYSICAL RESCUE; INC#1299; 05:03PM; 20900 W Nordhoff St; https://bit.ly/4xYCMOs; Chatsworth; The collision has resulted in a total of eight patients; 6 patients have been transported to local hospitals, 2 patients have been determined deceased. LAFD PIO has a 15 minute ETA to staging location on De Soto north of the intersection. The Mayor’s Crisis Response team has been notified. The intersection will be shut down for an unknown amount of time. LAPD INC#3660. ; FS 96; Batt 15; Valley Bureau; Council District 3; AC4 AC40 BC15 BC17 E103 E104 E106 E107 E273 E296 E72 EM14 EM15 EM17 HR703 PI1 RA100 RA104 RA107 RA7 RA70 RA72 RA75 RA93 RA96 RA98 T73 T96 UR88; CH8; 14; Jennifer Middleton
PHYSICAL RESCUE; INC#1299; 05:03PM; 20900 W Nordhoff St; https://bit.ly/4xYCMOs; Chatsworth; First arriving unit reports an collision between an MTA bus and a passenger vehicle has resulted in numerous injured patients. Firefighters are extricating the trapped patients and assessing all passengers on the bus. LAPD INC#3660. ; FS 96; Batt 15; Valley Bureau; Council District 3; AC4 AC40 BC15 BC17 E103 E104 E106 E107 E273 E296 E72 EM14 EM15 EM17 HR703 RA100 RA107 RA7 RA70 RA72 T73 T96 UR88; CH8; 14; Jennifer Middleton
FLASHBACK …
