Photos show charred wreckage from deadly crash of news helicopter in LA

September 16, 2026

The National Transportation Safety Board has released photographs showing the devastated remains of an NBC news helicopter that crashed in Los Angeles on Tuesday evening, resulting in three fatalities. The victims included NBC photojournalist Eliana Moreno, pilot George Marciniw, and a pedestrian named Edy Gutierrez Mejia, a 29-year-old Guatemalan national who had just arrived in the city. The aircraft had been covering another fatal incident—a bus crash that killed two people—when it went down, with multiple other news helicopters also present in the area.

Who is affected

NBC photojournalist Eliana Moreno (killed)
Pilot George Marciniw (killed)
Pedestrian Edy Gutierrez Mejia, 29, a Guatemalan national (killed)
Two individuals who were hospitalized
NBC Los Angeles and Telemundo 52 news organizations
The families and colleagues of the victims

What action is being taken

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is leading the investigation and collecting data at the crash site
Investigators are examining the wreckage, including the scorched aircraft and charred storage container
The NTSB is reviewing video footage that shows the helicopter's viewpoint before the crash
The helicopter will be moved to a secure facility for continued examination

Why it matters

This incident highlights the inherent risks faced by news crews conducting aerial coverage, particularly in Los Angeles where helicopter journalism is more prominent than in other major cities. The loss of three lives, including a pedestrian who had just arrived in the country, underscores the potential danger these operations pose not only to flight crews but also to the public below. The crash occurred while covering another fatal accident, demonstrating how news gathering itself can become tragically newsworthy.

What's next

A preliminary report on the incident will be issued within 30 days
A final report on the cause of the crash could take up to 18 months to be released
The helicopter wreckage will be moved to a secure facility for continued NTSB examination

Read full article from source: BBC