Chatsworth, California – A tragic chain of events unfolded on September 15, 2026, when a fiery helicopter crash claimed the lives of three individuals, including two local news crew members, during a day marked by a separate devastating traffic collision in the San Fernando Valley.
NBC4 Los Angeles anchor Robert Kovacik was at the scene of a deadly bus crash when news broke of the helicopter incident nearby. The helicopter, which provided aerial coverage for NBC4 and Telemundo 52, plummeted from the sky before 7 p.m., igniting flames as it descended. The crash killed 38-year-old aerial photojournalist Eliana Moreno, pilot George Marciniw, and a pedestrian on the ground, identified as 29-year-old Edy Gutierrez Mejia, who hailed from Guatemala.
The Los Angeles Fire Department received its first emergency call of the day at 5:03 p.m. regarding a collision between an SUV and a city bus on Nordhoff Street that resulted in the deaths of at least two people and injured several others. Initial investigations revealed that 36-year-old Bailee Lynn Rios drove her SUV against traffic conditions, running a red light before colliding with the bus. Rios was arrested later that night on charges of murder and is being held on a $4 million bail.
As Kovacik reported live from the first crash scene, he noticed black smoke rising in the area and instinctively moved toward it. Initially unsure of the source, he observed colleagues visibly shaken by the incident. “I just saw a colleague of mine from ABC in tears,” Kovacik said during his report, visibly emotional. He described the harrowing experience of being surrounded by fellow journalists and emergency personnel during such a fraught moment.
Firefighters rushed to the helicopter crash site, located approximately 1.5 miles from the bus incident, extinguishing flames that had engulfed multiple vehicles and storage units. Amidst the chaos, Kovacik learned the heartbreaking news that his colleagues were among the deceased. In a subsequent heartfelt report, he shared the impact of the loss, concluding with a heavy heart, “Let’s go back to you.”
As the tragedy unfolded, NBC4’s studio team remained on air, grappling with the shocking news. Anchor Colleen Williams utilized the broadcast to honor her fallen colleagues, identifying the helicopter as NewsChopper4 and expressing sorrow over their loss. “We are coming on the air with heavy hearts tonight because we lost valued friends and colleagues while on assignment tonight,” she said, visibly shaken.
The National Transportation Safety Board is leading the investigation into the crash, with support from the Federal Aviation Administration. Witness accounts suggested a possible engine failure in the helicopter. Video footage captured just before the crash featured a woman’s voice, believed to be Moreno’s, inquiring, “What? You can’t pull up?” Such details indicate the urgency of the situation as the aircraft spiraled down.
Moreno was a respected figure in the world of broadcast journalism, having graduated from Chapman University in 2010 and joined the Angel City Air team the same year. She was known for her vibrant on-air presence and was engaged to be married. Marciniw, a native of Southern California, had partnered with Moreno since 2023, amassing a significant flight experience together. Their dedication to delivering breaking news from the air meant they were living their dreams at the time of the accident.
On the following day, local media reported heartfelt tributes from the community and the news industry, mourning the loss of Moreno and Marciniw. Kovacik himself expressed his grief and shared his history of working alongside them, underscoring the profound impact of their loss on their colleagues and the broader community.
As authorities continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding both the helicopter crash and the bus collision, the close-knit media community in Los Angeles grapples with the heavy toll of the tragedies, remembering the journalists who dedicated their lives to informing the public.