NBC reporter killed in helicopter crash was engaged, living her dream as 'Eli in the heli'

CHATSWORTH, LOS ANGELES: Eliana Moreno had spent years building the life she wanted. The NBC4 Los Angeles aerial reporter had a career she had dreamed about since childhood, an engagement to her partner, and new personal goals she was pursuing outside work.

She was still looking ahead when she died on Tuesday, September 15, aboard NewsChopper 4 while covering a deadly crash in Los Angeles, leaving behind a future that had seemed full of promise.

Eliana Moreno loved her job

Moreno had reportedly wanted to become a television reporter since she was 11 years old.

After graduating from Chapman University in 2010 with degrees in broadcast journalism and political science, she began working in Southern California television, including at KCAL 9 and KCBS 2.

Her career eventually took her into the air.

Moreno had worked for Angel City Air Inc, the company operating NewsChopper 4, since September 2010.

She later became a familiar presence above Los Angeles while working for NBC4 Los Angeles and Telemundo 52.

She covered the kinds of stories that required reporters to see events from above, including police pursuits, brush fires, and traffic incidents.

On social media, she embraced the identity that had become synonymous with her work: 'Eli in the Heli'.

Moreno had no hesitation about how much she enjoyed the unusual assignment.

She once described aerial journalism as “the best job in the world.”

Wedding plans tragically cut short

Away from the helicopter, Moreno was entering another important stage of her life.

She announced her engagement to Robert Barrientos on October 28, 2025, sharing the news with friends and loved ones.

The couple also appeared together in one of Moreno’s recent personal accomplishments.

Moreno completed the Orange County half marathon in May in less than two hours alongside Barrientos, despite having only recently taken up running.

Moreno was working Tuesday when the helicopter carrying her and veteran pilot George Marciniw crashed in the Chatsworth area.

The NewsChopper 4 crew had been covering a deadly Metro bus collision when the helicopter went down in a parking area between two warehouses and caught fire.

Moreno and Marciniw were killed. A pedestrian, 29-year-old Edy Gutierrez Mejia, also died.

Video that emerged afterward appeared to capture the helicopter experiencing difficulty before the crash.

A woman, believed to be Moreno, could be heard speaking to the pilot moments before the aircraft went down.

The tragedy was also witnessed from close to the NBC newsroom.

Veteran NBC anchor Robert Kovacik had been reporting from the scene and had worked alongside Moreno and Marciniw for years.

Footage showed him breaking down after learning that his colleagues had died.