Three people were killed after an NBC local news helicopter crashed in Los Angeles while reporting from the scene of a bus collision which resulted in the deaths of two others.
On September 15, 2026, the Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD) confirmed that the helicopter went down at 18:57, local time, in the Chatsworth area, with over 75 firefighters attending the scene.
In a press conference overnight Chief Rico A. Gross from the fire department confirmed that three people died in the helicopter crash and two people had been taken to hospital.
The condition of the two victims transported to hospital has not been confirmed by local authorities.
Earlier LAPD’s public information officer Captain Brandon Silverman told reporters at the scene that one of the deceased victims was a “pedestrian” on the ground in a “parking lot”.
The helicopter, which at the time was covering the bus collision accident for NBC Los Angeles and Telemundo 52, was identified as NewsChopper4 by the local news station.
In unverified footage shared on social media, a female voice onboard the accident helicopter can be heard saying, “You can’t pull up” as the aircraft loses altitude.
CNN correspondent Elex Michaelson noted that an experienced Los Angeles helicopter reporter wrote: “Engine failure. You can hear the low rotor RPM annunciator horn going off.”
According to NBCLA, the helicopter was operated by Angel City Air. The victims on board the helicopter were identified as Angel City Air staff members Eliana Moreno and pilot George Marciniw.
There were reports of multiple helicopters in the area covering the bus collision. A witness told NBCLA that they saw the helicopter “oddly, coming straight down”.
“I looked at it and I go, ‘That’s weird. No helicopter comes down like that.’ And then two seconds later, the smoke. It came just straight down,” the witness said.
Aviation Safety Network, stated that the helicopter was a Eurocopter AS 350 B2 Ecureuil, registered N358TV.
In a statement NBCLA and Telemundo 52, said it was “deeply saddened” to share news of the deadly crash and sent its “heartfelt condolences to the families, friends and colleagues of those who lost their lives”.
NTSB and FAA to investigate incident
The LAFD confirmed that the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) will be investigating the incident.
The Governor of California Gavin Newsom said: “Our hearts are with the victims and families of tonight’s devastating Metro bus and helicopter crashes in Chatsworth, and with the entire NBC4 family. Thank you to the first responders working tirelessly tonight.
Following the crash between the Los Angeles Metro bus and a passenger vehicle two people died and others were injured.
“We lost five Angelenos today,” Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass said. “My heart certainly goes out to the family and friends of all of those that we lost.”