1 month ago
For the record:
1:38 p.m. Sept. 19, 2026: An earlier version of this article stated KCAL's helicopter is owned by Angel City Air. It is owned by Helicopters Inc.
Whether it's a brush fire, a mass shooting, a car chase or the aftermath of a major storm, viewers in Los Angeles are used to getting the news from above.
Television news helicopter coverage has become one of the most important elements of any local newscast, with the high-flying helicopters roaring overhead a common fixture of breaking news scenes.
These images are so ubiquitous, it may have been easy to take them for granted, until Tuesday, when an NBC4 helicopter carrying reporter Eliana Moreno and pilot George Marciniw crashed while covering breaking news in Chatsworth. Both died, along with a bystander on the ground.
The tragedy has prompted soul-searching in the world of TV news helicopter pilots and focused attention on safety issues.
#city #whether #angeles
1:38 p.m. Sept. 19, 2026: An earlier version of this article stated KCAL's helicopter is owned by Angel City Air. It is owned by Helicopters Inc.
Whether it's a brush fire, a mass shooting, a car chase or the aftermath of a major storm, viewers in Los Angeles are used to getting the news from above.
Television news helicopter coverage has become one of the most important elements of any local newscast, with the high-flying helicopters roaring overhead a common fixture of breaking news scenes.
These images are so ubiquitous, it may have been easy to take them for granted, until Tuesday, when an NBC4 helicopter carrying reporter Eliana Moreno and pilot George Marciniw crashed while covering breaking news in Chatsworth. Both died, along with a bystander on the ground.
The tragedy has prompted soul-searching in the world of TV news helicopter pilots and focused attention on safety issues.
#city #whether #angeles
2 months ago
NBC4's helicopter was one of several news aircraft flying over the scene of a deadly bus crash in Chatsworth Tuesday evening at sunset.
It's common for multiple news choppers to arrive at the scene of breaking news, beaming live images for newscasts and streaming.
But around 7 p.m., something went horribly wrong and in a matter of seconds the NBC4 chopper dropped out of the sky, crashing into shipping containers and vehicles outside a warehouse a few blocks away, bursting into flames. Two station journalists, reporter Eliana Moreno and pilot George Marciniw, were killed along with a bystander on the ground.
Federal investigators are now trying to figure out what went wrong. The Times interviewed several experts, who reviewed recordings of the chopper's final moments. They offered insights into the helicopter itself, its movements that afternoon and what is known about how its mechanics work.
Here's what they had to say:
#went #wrong #tuesday #nbc4
It's common for multiple news choppers to arrive at the scene of breaking news, beaming live images for newscasts and streaming.
But around 7 p.m., something went horribly wrong and in a matter of seconds the NBC4 chopper dropped out of the sky, crashing into shipping containers and vehicles outside a warehouse a few blocks away, bursting into flames. Two station journalists, reporter Eliana Moreno and pilot George Marciniw, were killed along with a bystander on the ground.
Federal investigators are now trying to figure out what went wrong. The Times interviewed several experts, who reviewed recordings of the chopper's final moments. They offered insights into the helicopter itself, its movements that afternoon and what is known about how its mechanics work.
Here's what they had to say:
#went #wrong #tuesday #nbc4
2 months ago
It was a night of devastation in Chatsworth that began with a deadly Metro bus collision and ended with the fiery crash of an NBC4 helicopter covering the news that left two journalists and, on the ground, a bystander dead.
Tuesday's scene was a mixture of confusion and chaos, with first responders fanned out across two catastrophes and television news teams desperately trying to find out whether their journalists were safe. The crashes claimed the lives of five people and left others with various degrees of injury.
Investigators with the National Transportation Safety Board and the Federal Aviation Administration were trying Wednesday to determine exactly what caused the news helicopter, a Eurocopter AS350 B2, to go down.
NTSB Investigator Fabian Salazar said officials are searching through the wreckage, combing through maintenance logbooks, security footage, weather reports and witness interviews, and reviewing the pilot's training to figure out what went wrong.
But the most critical information so far has been audio captured from the helicopter during a live broadcast of reporter Eliana Moreno and pilot George Marciniw's final moments before it crashed.
#journalists #nbc4
Tuesday's scene was a mixture of confusion and chaos, with first responders fanned out across two catastrophes and television news teams desperately trying to find out whether their journalists were safe. The crashes claimed the lives of five people and left others with various degrees of injury.
Investigators with the National Transportation Safety Board and the Federal Aviation Administration were trying Wednesday to determine exactly what caused the news helicopter, a Eurocopter AS350 B2, to go down.
NTSB Investigator Fabian Salazar said officials are searching through the wreckage, combing through maintenance logbooks, security footage, weather reports and witness interviews, and reviewing the pilot's training to figure out what went wrong.
But the most critical information so far has been audio captured from the helicopter during a live broadcast of reporter Eliana Moreno and pilot George Marciniw's final moments before it crashed.
#journalists #nbc4
4 months ago
Los Angeles Rams left tackle Alaric Jackson isn't facing facing criminal charges after being arrested on suspicion of domestic violence last month, according to multiple reports in the past week that have cited the Los Angeles City Attorney's Office.
"Charges are not filed against the respondent at this time; however, the case stays open throughout the length of the statute of limitations. It can be re-evaluated if there are further developments," said Ivor Pine, a spokesperson for the city attorney's office, in a statement, per the Los Angeles Times and ESPN.
Jackson's case has been ***** igned for a pre-filing diversion, an alternative to misdemeanor prosecution, Pine told those outlets. City officials, according to NBC4 Los Angeles, are planning to give Jackson options that include attending a class, paying restitution or completing community service.
Jackson, who's turning 28 on Tuesday, can still face discipline from the NFL if the league deems that he's violated its personal conduct policy. His violation of that policy in 2024 resulted in a two-game suspension. A second violation could land Jackson a six-game suspension or a ban from the league for at least one year.
Jackson was arrested on June 8, when police responded to a call at his home in San Fernando Valley, where Jackson and a woman had engaged in an argument, per NBC4. Police learned that the woman involved recorded the interaction, according to the Times. They also reportedly identified scratch marks on her arms.
"Charges are not filed against the respondent at this time; however, the case stays open throughout the length of the statute of limitations. It can be re-evaluated if there are further developments," said Ivor Pine, a spokesperson for the city attorney's office, in a statement, per the Los Angeles Times and ESPN.
Jackson's case has been ***** igned for a pre-filing diversion, an alternative to misdemeanor prosecution, Pine told those outlets. City officials, according to NBC4 Los Angeles, are planning to give Jackson options that include attending a class, paying restitution or completing community service.
Jackson, who's turning 28 on Tuesday, can still face discipline from the NFL if the league deems that he's violated its personal conduct policy. His violation of that policy in 2024 resulted in a two-game suspension. A second violation could land Jackson a six-game suspension or a ban from the league for at least one year.
Jackson was arrested on June 8, when police responded to a call at his home in San Fernando Valley, where Jackson and a woman had engaged in an argument, per NBC4. Police learned that the woman involved recorded the interaction, according to the Times. They also reportedly identified scratch marks on her arms.
4 months ago
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Los Angeles Rams left tackle Alaric Jackson, who was arrested on June 9 on suspicion of felony domestic violence, has the opportunity to avoid criminal charges.
Los Angeles City Attorney's Office spokesman Ivor Pine confirmed in a statement to The ******* ociated Press on Monday that Jackson's case has been ******* igned for a pre-filing diversion available to eligible individuals. The City Attorney Hearing is an alternative to misdemeanor criminal prosecution.
Though charges will not be filed against Jackson at this time, the case remains open and can be re-evaluated if there are more developments.
At the time of the arrest, the Los Angeles Police Department said officers were called to Jackson's home in the West Hills neighborhood of the San Fernando Valley. NBC4 reported that Jackson allegedly attempted to take a phone away from a woman when he thought he was being recorded, and the woman had scratches on her arm.
Jackson has been the Rams' starting left tackle for the past three seasons, starting 45 regular-season games and six playoff games. The former undrafted free agent re-signed with the Rams on a three-year, $57 million deal in February 2025.
Los Angeles City Attorney's Office spokesman Ivor Pine confirmed in a statement to The ******* ociated Press on Monday that Jackson's case has been ******* igned for a pre-filing diversion available to eligible individuals. The City Attorney Hearing is an alternative to misdemeanor criminal prosecution.
Though charges will not be filed against Jackson at this time, the case remains open and can be re-evaluated if there are more developments.
At the time of the arrest, the Los Angeles Police Department said officers were called to Jackson's home in the West Hills neighborhood of the San Fernando Valley. NBC4 reported that Jackson allegedly attempted to take a phone away from a woman when he thought he was being recorded, and the woman had scratches on her arm.
Jackson has been the Rams' starting left tackle for the past three seasons, starting 45 regular-season games and six playoff games. The former undrafted free agent re-signed with the Rams on a three-year, $57 million deal in February 2025.
