‘We've lost contact’: NBC4 covers its own helicopter tragedy with grief, purpose

Key Points:

• NBC4's News Chopper 4 crashed in Chatsworth around 7 p.m. while covering a deadly Metro bus accident, resulting in the deaths of reporter Eliana Moreno, pilot George Marciniw, and one person on the ground.
• The station lost contact with the helicopter crew during live coverage, leading to a two-hour broadcast filled with grief and updates until confirmation of the crash was announced by anchor Colleen Williams.
• Officials, including Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass and L.A. County Supervisor Lindsey Horvath, held a news conference expressing condolences and acknowledging the trauma experienced by the local news community.
• The cause of the helicopter crash remains unknown; the chopper was operated by Angel City Air and went down between two commercial buildings in the 9100 block of Mason Avenue.
• This incident marks a tragic reminder of past helicopter accidents involving news crews in Los Angeles, underscoring the risks faced by journalists covering critical events from the air.