LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA — George Marciniw, a veteran Southern California helicopter pilot whose career included years of aerial news coverage, has died after the NewsChopper 4 helicopter crashed in Chatsworth while he and reporter Eliana Moreno were covering a deadly traffic collision.
The September 15, 2026 crash killed Marciniw and Moreno, who were both employees of Angel City Air, the company that operates the helicopter used for aerial coverage by NBC4 and Telemundo 52. A third person on the ground, 29-year-old Edy Gutierrez Mejia, was also killed.
George Marciniw Death and Chatsworth Helicopter Crash
The helicopter went down shortly before 7 p.m. in the 9100 block of North Mason Avenue in Chatsworth, in the San Fernando Valley area of Los Angeles.
Marciniw and Moreno had been providing aerial coverage of another serious crash involving a Metro bus when their own helicopter went down. The aircraft crashed in a commercial area between buildings and a fire broke out following the impact.
The Los Angeles Fire Department said the crash damaged four vehicles and two storage containers. More than 70 firefighters responded as crews worked to control the fire and secure the crash site.
Two other people were hospitalized following the incident.
Details of the Incident
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Name | George Marciniw |
| Location | Chatsworth, Los Angeles, California |
| Date of crash | September 15, 2026 |
| Occupation | Helicopter pilot and flight instructor |
| News operation | NewsChopper 4 / NBC4 and Telemundo 52 aerial coverage |
| Helicopter operator | Angel City Air |
| Other person killed aboard | Eliana Moreno |
| Person killed on ground | Edy Gutierrez Mejia, 29 |
| Crash location | 9100 block of North Mason Avenue |
| Cause | Under investigation |
| Federal investigation | NTSB and FAA investigators involved |
| Funeral arrangements | Not publicly announced in the information reviewed |
A Veteran Southern California Pilot
Marciniw had spent decades working in helicopter aviation and was known for his connection to Southern California’s aerial news operations.
He grew up in the region and graduated from Burbank High School in 1974. Beyond his work flying news helicopters, Marciniw was also a flight instructor, helping other pilots develop their aviation skills.
His career placed him in the air for some of the region’s major breaking-news events, including fires, police pursuits, traffic incidents and other emergencies that required aerial reporting.
Reports about his aviation career indicate that he had accumulated extensive flight experience over several decades.
George Marciniw and Eliana Moreno Worked Together
Marciniw and Moreno had worked together as an aerial news team since 2023.
Moreno, 38, joined Angel City Air in 2010 and went on to build a career covering Southern California news from the air. She worked with multiple television news organizations and most recently provided aerial reporting for NBC4 and Telemundo 52.
The two were part of a specialized team that combined aviation, journalism and live television coverage, allowing viewers to see major incidents from above.
Their final assignment was another breaking-news story in Chatsworth. While they were covering that incident, NewsChopper 4 crashed a short distance away.
Investigation Into the Helicopter Crash
The cause of the helicopter crash has not been determined.
Federal investigators from the National Transportation Safety Board and the Federal Aviation Administration arrived at the scene to document the wreckage and collect evidence.
Investigators are examining the aircraft, available video and other information surrounding the flight. The helicopter was reportedly transmitting live footage when it crashed, making the recorded material an important part of the investigation.
Officials have not publicly attributed the crash to a mechanical failure, pilot error, weather or any other specific cause.
A final determination is expected to take considerably longer than the initial stages of the investigation.
Remembering George Marciniw
Those who knew Marciniw have remembered him not only for his long career as a pilot but also for his personality away from the cockpit.
Colleagues and acquaintances described a man who was deeply familiar with aviation and who had spent much of his life around helicopters. His work required the skill and concentration necessary to fly in demanding situations while supporting live news coverage.
Marciniw’s death has left colleagues across Southern California television and aviation mourning the loss of a pilot whose career was closely connected to the region’s news-gathering tradition.
His death also occurred alongside the loss of Moreno, turning what began as a routine assignment to cover a breaking-news event into a tragedy for their families, colleagues and the wider Los Angeles journalism community.
Memorial and Funeral Information
Funeral and memorial arrangements for George Marciniw had not been publicly included in the information reviewed for this report.
Further details regarding services, visitation or a permanent memorial may be announced by his family, church or colleagues.
Marciniw and Moreno are also expected to be remembered through the Fallen Journalists Memorial, which honors journalists and news professionals who die while covering the news.
George Marciniw leaves behind a decades-long aviation career and a professional legacy built around aerial reporting, flight instruction and service to the Southern California news community. His death in the Chatsworth helicopter crash marks a devastating loss for those who knew him personally and professionally.
Disclaimer
This article is based on information available about the Chatsworth helicopter crash and the reported death of George Marciniw. Funeral, memorial and family information may change as additional announcements are made. Details concerning the cause of the helicopter crash remain subject to the ongoing investigation. Readers should rely on official family announcements for final funeral and memorial arrangements.