AI Image
A deadly crash and the perilous history of LA’s news helicopters: ‘the eye in the sky’
The Guardian • • general
Key Points:
- A news helicopter crash in Los Angeles on Tuesday killed journalist Eliana Moreno, pilot George Marciniw, and a pedestrian, highlighting the dangers of aerial news reporting.
- Helicopter journalism has been integral to LA news coverage for nearly 70 years, starting with the invention of the "Telecopter" in 1958 by KTLA-TV engineer John Silva.
- Helicopters provide crucial live coverage of breaking events like wildfires, riots, and police chases, but their use has involved risks, with at least eight fatal news helicopter crashes in the U.S. since 2000.
- Moreno, a bilingual reporter known as “Eli in the Heli,” had worked in helicopter journalism since 2010 and was praised for her skill and dedication; Marciniw was a veteran pilot nearing retirement.
- The crash has prompted reflection on the balance between the public’s need for aerial news coverage and the safety concerns of sending crews into the sky.
