[REVISION HISTORY]

Los Angeles news helicopter crash and fatal SUV collision

8 recorded revisions of this situation.

What changed

2026-09-23 14:14 UTC → 2026-10-06 23:18 UTC · added ~~removed~~

On September 15, 2026, a NewsChopper 4 helicopter, operated by Angel City Air for NBC4 and Telemundo 52, crashed in the Chatsworth neighborhood of Los Angeles. The Airbus AS 350 B2 was providing aerial coverage of a traffic accident involving a Metro bus and an SUV at the time of the incident. The crash resulted in at least three ~~fatalities. Victims identified include~~ fatalities, including 38-year-old veteran aerial journalist Eliana ~~Moreno and~~ Moreno, pilot George Marciniw, ~~while a third individual, identified as~~ and 29-year-old Edy Gutierrez Mejia, who was killed on the ground. The impact ~~occurred between two commercial buildings, triggering~~ triggered a fire that damaged four vehicles and two storage containers near the intersection of Lurline Avenue and Nordhoff Street. Investigations into the cause of the crash are being led by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The NTSB has indicated that footage from the helicopter prior to the crash is considered ‘most important evidence’ in their ongoing investigation. Lead investigator Fabian Salazar noted that cockpit video is a critical piece of evidence, as it reportedly captures sounds “consistent with engine speed changes and potential pilot warning alarms,” which may indicate engine failure. containers. In a related development, ~~authorities arrested~~ Bailee Lynn Rios, the driver of the SUV involved in the initial ~~traffic collision. Rios~~ collision, was arrested and faces charges of second-degree murder, driving under the influence, and reckless driving. ~~The~~ That initial collision ~~involving Rios’s 2004 Ford Expedition resulted in the deaths of~~ had already killed two Metro bus passengers, Gage Weida and Daniel ~~Castillo, bringing~~ Castillo. On September 28, freelance photographer Ethan Swope used drone technology to document the ~~total death toll~~ crash site, capturing overhead views of the charred helicopter remains and surrounding vehicles after police perimeters restricted ground-level access. A preliminary report from the ~~series of incidents to five. On September 21, a memorial service~~ National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) released on October 6 revealed that the helicopter had been filming the SUV and bus collision for approximately one hour and 24 minutes. Data shows that in the minute before the crash, the aircraft was ~~held~~ at ~~the Nativity~~ an altitude of ~~the Blessed Virgin Mary Ukrainian Catholic Church~~ about 800 feet with an airspeed of approximately 6 knots (7 mph). Aviation experts suggested this low ground speed may have prevented a successful autorotation maneuver. While investigators are using live broadcast footage to ~~honor Marciniw and Moreno.~~ reconstruct the event, a definitive cause for the crash has not yet been identified.

Versions

Select a version to see what changed compared to the one before it.