Tributes began pouring in on Wednesday after a news helicopter crashed in Los Angeles, leaving three people dead. The accident occurred shortly before 7 pm local time on Tuesday in the Chatsworth area of the San Fernando Valley, while the news helicopter was covering a traffic accident. Angel City Air operated the helicopter, which provided news coverage for NBC Los Angeles. The victims aboard the helicopter were identified as Eliana Moreno, a journalist familiar with viewers of the station and its Spanish-language sister station, Telemundo 52, and pilot George Marciniw. The pair began flying together in 2023. A pedestrian on the ground was also confirmed to have died at the scene, authorities said. Authorities identified the third victim as Edy Gutiérrez Mejía, 29 years old. Zareh Sevanesian, who witnessed the crash, said the helicopter was rocking before it began to lose altitude. “It was getting more and more and more and more,” he said on NBC’s “TODAY” show. NBC Los Angeles and Telemundo 52 issued a joint statement expressing their condolences for the couple. “We are deeply saddened to share that a helicopter providing aerial news coverage for NBC4 and Telemundo 52 was involved in a fatal crash in Los Angeles on Tuesday night,” the stations said. “We extend our deepest condolences to the families, friends and colleagues of those who lost their lives.” Eliana MorenoMoreno, 38, was born in Orange County, south of Los Angeles. She graduated from Chapman University in Orange with a double bachelor’s degree in broadcast journalism and social sciences in 2010, according to the university. “We are grateful to know that she continued to pursue her passion for journalism and storytelling as a reporter,” university spokesman Bob Hitchcock said in a statement. Wednesday. “Our hearts go out to Eliana’s family, friends, colleagues and all those who knew and worked with her,” Hitchcock continued. “We extend our deepest condolences to all who mourn his loss.” Moreno joined the Angel City Air helicopter team the same year and has since reported for several Southern California news outlets. Moreno, an experienced aerial journalist who also reported in Spanish, was known on her official Instagram account as “Eli in the heli” because of her work. There she shared photos of her chickens and dogs and, last year, a video of her engagement to Robert Barrientos. He did not immediately respond to NBC News’ request for comment. The two ran a half marathon together in May, after which she wrote, “I surpassed everything I thought I could do, so let’s see what I do next!” Moreno also frequently shared images of herself in the news helicopter, covering stories on the go, with a caption that read, “I have the best job in the world.” “She was a light, a spark plug. She’s tiny. Tiny, but she had the biggest heart and enthusiasm,” Lynette Romero, co-anchor of NBC Los Angeles morning news, said of her colleague. “It was really contagious.” Veteran NBC Los Angeles anchor Colleen Williams paid tribute to “dear colleagues” while on air Tuesday night. Visibly emotional, she told viewers: “Tonight we will go on air with a heavy heart because we lost valuable friends and colleagues… while on a mission tonight.” “Let’s take a couple of minutes to think about it, process it,” he added, his voice shaking. Romero said they were “heartbroken” and are thinking about the families of Moreno and Marciniw. “They were both doing what they loved so much, and it’s a comfort to me to know how happy they were. They loved breaking news and they loved being on NewsChopper4,” he said Wednesday on NBC’s “TODAY” show. Eliana Moreno and George Marciniw.via Facebook George Marciniw Marciniw also grew up in Southern California, where he graduated from Burbank High School in 1974, according to NBC Los Angeles. Marciniw is believed to have had more than 30 years of flying experience. He often shared sunsets and panoramic photos of the area on what he called a “news cruise” on the helicopter. He often attributed photographs on his Instagram page to his partner and colleague Moreno. “And that’s a wrap for Friday night as the heavy fog rolls in with Eliana Moreno,” he wrote, sharing an image of the helicopter. In another, she posted a photo of Dodger Stadium lit up brightly at night, with the caption: “Some shots Eliana took while we were flying over the Dodgers after the game. ‘Go Dodgers.'” was at the scene of the accident, he said Marciniw was about to retire. The two last spoke over the weekend, Jimenez told NBC Los Angeles. “I knew him since the ’90s. He was my instructor at one point, he was my eyes and ears here in Los Angeles,” Jimenez said. “I just can’t believe this.” Many online paid tribute to Marciniw, detailing his professionalism and fun spirit. “Fly high in the afterlife,” one person wrote. “Complete and utter disbelief,” wrote another. Edy Fernando Gutiérrez Mejía Mejía, better known as “Pichi” to his loved ones, lived in Cuilapa, a city of about 41,000 people in southeastern Guatemala, and had been in the city just two days before the tragedy occurred, NBC Los Angeles reported. He had planned to pick up a car and take it home to sell, his cousin told NBC Los Angeles. Now, his family is working to send his body back to Guatemala. Mejía shared photos of himself playing soccer, traveling, and spending time with loved ones on social media. “We offer our prayers for eternal rest and ask our Lord God to grant the family much patience in these moments of pain,” the Cuilapa mayor’s office said in a statement on Facebook. The National Transportation Safety Board and the Federal Aviation Administration said they will begin investigating the cause of the helicopter crash.
