Live video 'most important evidence' in deadly news chopper crash, NTSB says
Live video taken from a Los Angeles TV news helicopter just before it crashed is among the "most important evidence" investigators have.
A deadly helicopter crash in Chatsworth claimed the lives of a reporter, a pilot, and a bystander on Tuesday evening. Among the key pieces of evidence, live video from NBC Los Angeles helicopter reporter Eliana Moreno and her pilot George Marciniw is considered the most important, according to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB).
The video captures the helicopter shaking, alarms sounding, and a voice asking, "You can't pull up?" before the feed is cut off. NTSB investigator-in-charge Fabian Salazar stated that the recording will undergo sound spectrum analysis to examine engine speed changes and advisory tones.
The crash, which occurred between two commercial buildings, resulted in the deaths of Moreno, Marciniw, and 29-year-old Edy Gutierrez Mejia, while a fourth person was hospitalized. NBC Los Angeles reported that Moreno and Marciniw had logged hundreds of hours together in the sky on various stories, including the January 2025 wildfires.
The helicopter was part of a fleet covering a separate fatal incident involving a Metro bus and an SUV two hours prior, which left two dead and several injured. The SUV driver, Bailee Lynn Rios, is being held on suspicion of murder.
A vigil is planned for Thursday evening in Chatsworth. The NTSB plans to release its preliminary report within 30 days, with a final report detailing the cause expected to take up to 18 months.
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