Tuesday night, during a broadcast, NBC4 Los Angeles anchors Colleen Williams and Carolyn Johnson delivered a grim announcement to viewers. They said that two of their colleagues had been killed in a helicopter crash.
NBC4 reporter Eliana Moreno and pilot George Marciniw were killed when their news chopper crashed between two buildings in Chatsworth shortly before 7 pm local time, according to the show’s hosts. The pair had been reporting on a serious collision involving a bus and an SUV that occurred just a couple of blocks from where the fatal accident took place.
Another person on the ground was killed during the crash, according to Williams and Johnson.
“We’re coming on the air with heavy hearts tonight because we lost valued friends and colleagues just before 7 p.m.,” the pair said before showing a photo of Moreno and Marciniw together in front of the news helicopter.
The Crew Behind the Camera
Chapman University was where Moreno earned her degree in broadcast journalism and political science while growing up in Orange County. She started flying news choppers back in 2010. Marciniw is from Southern California, where he attended Burbank High School before graduating in 1974.
“They began flying together in 2023,” Johnson explained. “George and Eliana often flew together, and you probably recall she often referred to him when they were covering stories together.”
The Night’s First Confirmation
Earlier in the evening, Williams first confirmed that the helicopter belonged to NBC4. “We’ve been piecing it together here,” she said, per People. “We knew it was a news chopper. We knew we’d lost contact with our people out there. And we’ve just received the confirmation.”
The Ground Victim
Williams and Johnson said the crash killed another person on the ground, though they offered no additional information about that individual.
Firefighters Extinguish the Blaze
The Los Angeles Times reported that the blaze was put out by 7:30 p.m. The BBC added that two additional people were admitted to hospital after the accident.
The Station’s Statement
NBC4 and Telemundo 52 issued a joint statement. “We are deeply saddened to share that a helicopter providing aerial news coverage for NBC4 and Telemundo 52 was involved in a fatal accident in Los Angeles on Tuesday evening,” the statement said. “We extend our heartfelt condolences to the families, friends and colleagues of those who lost their lives.”
The Governor’s Response
On Facebook, California Gov. Gavin Newsom released a statement. “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.”
What Happened That Evening
| Time | Event |
|---|---|
| Just before 7 p.m. | The helicopter crashed between two buildings in Chatsworth |
| 7:30 p.m. | Firefighters extinguished the blaze |
As Moreno and Marciniw stood before the news helicopter, the anchors displayed an image of the two speaking together, and the mood was solemn and plain.
The station’s joint statement and the governor’s response both addressed the families, friends and colleagues left behind by this accident.
The NBC4 team has taken the loss of Moreno and Marciniw hard, with their anchors delivering the news themselves, live on air, in real time.
See the video the story is built around at Tvinsider.
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