3 dead after NBC news helicopter crashes in fireball near deadly Los Angeles bus wreck
🚨🇺🇲A helicopter in Los Angeles ERUPTED in a ball of fire after crashing while covering a deadly bus accident.
— Mario Nawfal (@MarioNawfal) September 16, 2026
The helicopter was reportedly in Chatsworth when it went down.
Nearby trucks and infrastructure were caught up in the blaze.
One person on the ground in a parking lot… https://t.co/ssLDfdJb1e
CHATSWORTH, LOS ANGELES: An NBC News helicopter crashed and burst into flames Tuesday evening, September 15, near the scene of a separate deadly Metro bus collision in Chatsworth, Los Angeles.
At least three people were killed in the helicopter crash, while firefighters searched the wreckage to determine how many people were aboard.
The Los Angeles Fire Department said the person killed was likely a pedestrian and was not believed to have been inside the helicopter. LAFD spokesman Branden Silverman said authorities were still searching the aircraft to determine how many people were on board.
🚨🇺🇸 BREAKING: Reporter Eliana Moreno and pilot George Marciniw reportedly killed in the NBC4 helicopter crash in Los Angeles
— Mario Nawfal (@MarioNawfal) September 16, 2026
Officials have not released identities.
LAFD confirms three dead total, two aboard the aircraft and one bystander standing in a parking lot.
A fourth… https://t.co/lAdKEPN5Nl pic.twitter.com/urpWCdEMIG
Los Angeles helicopter crash sparks frantic search
The helicopter came down in a parking lot near Nordhoff Street, setting several nearby cars on fire.
Firefighters arrived to find the helicopter and vehicles burning while emergency crews were already dealing with the earlier bus accident nearby. There did not appear to be any survivors, according to authorities. It was not immediately clear who was involved, although early reports indicated that the helicopter belonged to KNBC.
The crash also brought an emotional moment on live television as NBC4 anchor Colleen Williams struggled to hold back tears while reporting on the incident.
“We have lost contact with our people,” Williams said on air.
KNBC helicopter crashes as crews respond to bus wreck
The helicopter crash happened close to the site of a separate deadly collision involving a Metro bus and another vehicle.
The bus crash was reported shortly after 5 pm near Nordhoff Street and De Soto Avenue, according to the Los Angeles Police Department.
LAPD Central Division would like to extend our thoughts and prayers to the family, friends and colleagues of KNBC 4, Los Angeles. https://t.co/t9CTuiZP40
— LAPD Central Division (@LAPDCentral) September 16, 2026
At least two people were killed in that collision, emergency personnel said. Six others were injured and taken to hospitals, though their conditions were not immediately known. That meant emergency crews were already working at the scene of the first crash when the helicopter came down nearby, creating another emergency for responders.
Firefighters remain at Chatsworth crash scene
The flames from the helicopter crash were later extinguished, but firefighters remained in the area as they continued working at the scene.
Authorities were still searching the helicopter as they tried to determine how many people had been aboard. The circumstances surrounding the crash and the identities of those involved were not immediately clear.
