From California Post · · 2m
NBC reporter killed in LA helicopter crash
Eliana Moreno, an acclaimed aerial journalist, died Tuesday when her news helicopter crashed while covering a Metro bus collision in Los Angeles.
In brief
Eliana Moreno, an acclaimed aerial journalist, died Tuesday when her news helicopter crashed while covering a Metro bus collision in Los Angeles. Eliana Moreno, a celebrated NBC4 aerial reporter who had recently gotten engaged, was killed in a helicopter crash in Los Angeles along with pilot George Marciniw while…
NBC reporter killed in helicopter crash
Eliana Moreno, 38, an aerial reporter for NBC4 Los Angeles and Telemundo 52, died Tuesday when NewsChopper 4 crashed and burst into flames while covering a deadly Metro bus collision in Chatsworth.
Pilot and pedestrian also died
Pilot George Marciniw and pedestrian Edy Gutierrez Mejia, 29, were also killed in the crash. The helicopter had been responding to a Metro bus collision that killed two people and injured six.
Recently engaged to Robert Barrientos
Moreno announced her engagement to Robert Barrientos on October 28, 2025, less than a year before her death. The couple shared a passion for fitness and completed an Orange County half marathon together in May.
Award-winning aerial journalist
Moreno worked as an aerial reporter since around 2018 or 2019, covering police pursuits, brush fires, and traffic events. She won a Radio Television Digital News Association award in 2022 for her coverage of a deadly Windsor Hills crash.
“the best job in the world”
Dreamed of journalism since age 11
A Tustin native, Moreno aspired to be a television news reporter since childhood. She graduated from Chapman University in 2010 with degrees in broadcast journalism and political science, and worked for KCAL 9 and KCBS 2 before NBC.
Overcame asthma to run half marathon
In 2025, Moreno set a New Year's resolution to run one mile despite having bad asthma. By May 2026, she completed an Orange County half marathon in under two hours, saying she surpassed everything she thought she could do.
“I surpassed everything I thought I could ever do so let's see what I do next”
Engine failure suspected in crash
Live-stream video captured the helicopter struggling with engine sounds before crashing. Veteran pilot Zoey Tur speculated the crash resulted from engine failure and a slow response to auto-rotation by the pilot in command.
Industry mourns loss of top reporter
Telemundo released a statement saying Moreno was a wonderful human being and the best airborne reporter in Los Angeles. Colleagues described her as a source of comfort who was on top of everything.
“the best airborne reporter in all of Los Angeles”
What it means
Eliana Moreno, a celebrated NBC4 aerial reporter who had recently gotten engaged, was killed in a helicopter crash in Los Angeles along with pilot George Marciniw while covering a news story.
