Story perspectives

NTSB and FAA Launch Probe After Chatsworth Helicopter Crash

By Drooid · Sep 16, 2026, 4:52 PM UTC · How we work

Summary

Story summary

NBC Los Angeles helicopter crashed in Chatsworth, killing journalist Eliana Moreno, pilot George Marciniw, and a pedestrian.
More than 70 firefighters fought flames that spread to nearby cars and storage containers.
Mayor Karen Bass called the night heartbreaking and mourned the five Angelenos who died.
Governor Gavin Newsom thanked responders and expressed sympathy for victims’ families.
The NTSB and FAA will investigate, with teams arriving on Wednesday.

History

Historical Context

Los Angeles news helicopters have a tragic record, from the 1977 Bell 206 crash that killed Francis Gary Powers and cameraman George Spears to the 2007 Phoenix collision of two AS-350s that killed four crew. The NBC Los Angeles crash that killed reporter Eliana Moreno, pilot George Marciniw and a pedestrian has prompted Mayor Karen Bass and Governor Gavin Newsom to demand FAA safety measures.

1 of 2

Story summary

NBC Los Angeles helicopter crashed in Chatsworth, killing journalist Eliana Moreno, pilot George Marciniw, and a pedestrian.
More than 70 firefighters fought flames that spread to nearby cars and storage containers.
Mayor Karen Bass called the night heartbreaking and mourned the five Angelenos who died.
Governor Gavin Newsom thanked responders and expressed sympathy for victims’ families.
The NTSB and FAA will investigate, with teams arriving on Wednesday.

1 / 2