Three killed after Los Angeles news helicopter crashes while covering fatal bus collision

A news helicopter operated by Angel City Air providing aerial coverage for NBC Los Angeles and Telemundo 52 crashed in the Chatsworth neighborhood of suburban Los Angeles on Tuesday evening. The aircraft went down just before 19:00 local time, igniting a fierce fire that spread to several vehicles and storage containers. Three people perished in the crash, while two others were taken to a local hospital for treatment.

The crew members on board were identified as aerial photojournalist Eliana Moreno and pilot George Marciniw. A third fatality occurred on the ground when the aircraft came down, though officials have withheld the identity pending notification. Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass noted that "We lost five Angelenos today" due to both the helicopter disaster and an earlier fatal bus collision.

The helicopter was among several news aircraft in the area covering a severe transit accident involving a sports utility vehicle and a Los Angeles Metro bus earlier in the day. The bus collided with an SUV, resulting in two deaths and six injuries. Witnesses reported seeing the helicopter behaving erratically before losing altitude and crashing into a blaze.

Newsrooms across Southern California reacted with shock and grief upon learning of the disaster. Federal aviation authorities, including the National Transportation Safety Board and the Federal Aviation Administration, have taken control of the investigation into the crash.