Three Killed as Los Angeles Helicopter Crash Involving NBC Helicopter Happens During Coverage of Metro Bus Crash

Three Killed as Los Angeles Helicopter Crash Involving NBC Helicopter Happens During Coverage of Metro Bus Crash in San Fernando Valley

A tragic Los Angeles helicopter crash occurred Tuesday evening, September 15, 2026, when a television news helicopter went down in Chatsworth in the San Fernando Valley while news crews were covering a separate deadly Metro bus crash. The helicopter, later confirmed as an NBC4 aircraft operated for KNBC-TV, crashed near the earlier collision and burst into flames.

According to the Los Angeles Fire Department and local reports, three people were killed in the helicopter incident and another person was taken to a hospital. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) are expected to investigate the circumstances surrounding the crash.

What Happened in the Los Angeles Helicopter Crash?

The Los Angeles helicopter crash happened shortly before 7 p.m. near the 9100 block of North Mason Avenue in Chatsworth. The aircraft came down between commercial buildings and ignited a fire that spread to nearby vehicles and storage containers.

Firefighters responded quickly and worked to extinguish the flames. According to reports, four vehicles and two storage containers were damaged in the fire. The helicopter itself was heavily damaged, making identification and examination of the wreckage more difficult during the initial emergency response.

The incident happened while several television crews and aircraft were covering an earlier traffic collision involving a bus. The close timing and location made the helicopter crash particularly significant for local news organizations that were already reporting from the area.

NBC Helicopter Was Covering the Earlier Crash

The aircraft was identified as an NBC helicopter associated with NBC4 Los Angeles, also known as KNBC-TV. NBC4 confirmed during its broadcast that its helicopter had crashed after the station had lost contact with its air crew.

The station’s coverage was interrupted as the seriousness of the incident became clear. The helicopter had been providing aerial coverage of the nearby traffic emergency when it went down. The Los Angeles Times reported that NBC4 identified reporter Eliana Moreno and pilot George Marcino among those killed.

Authorities have not yet announced a definitive cause for the crash. Investigators are expected to examine the aircraft, flight path, weather, communications and other relevant factors before determining what happened.

Metro Bus Crash Near Nordhoff Street and De Soto Avenue

The helicopter was covering a separate Metro bus crash that occurred earlier Tuesday in Chatsworth. The collision happened shortly after 5 p.m. near Nordhoff Street and De Soto Avenue.

According to CBS Los Angeles, a Metro Line 166 bus traveling eastbound on Nordhoff Street was struck by an SUV traveling southbound on De Soto Avenue. Emergency crews responded to the scene after people became trapped in the damaged bus.

Local reports initially described two deaths and several injuries, while later reporting from Metro indicated three confirmed fatalities and six people transported to hospitals. This difference reflects the changing information available during the initial emergency response.

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Crash in the San Fernando Valley Draws Major Emergency Response

Both incidents generated a major emergency response in the San Fernando Valley. Firefighters, police officers, paramedics and news crews were already at or near the bus crash when the helicopter went down.

The helicopter crash created another emergency only a short distance from the original collision. Firefighters battled the flames while police secured the surrounding area and emergency personnel assessed victims.

The LAFD reported that more than 50 firefighters responded to the helicopter fire. The flames were eventually extinguished, allowing investigators and emergency personnel to begin examining the wreckage.

Investigation Into the News Helicopter Crash

The cause of the news helicopter crash remains unknown. The NTSB and FAA are expected to examine the aircraft and circumstances leading up to the incident.

Investigators will likely consider multiple factors, including mechanical condition, flight operations, communications and the events immediately preceding the crash. At this stage, officials have not publicly established that the nearby Metro collision caused or contributed to the helicopter crash.

Because the investigation is still developing, additional information about the aircraft, crew and circumstances may emerge as authorities analyze evidence from the crash site.

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What We Know So Far

The latest reports establish that an NBC4/KNBC-TV news helicopter crashed in Chatsworth while covering the nearby bus collision. Three people were killed in the helicopter incident, while another person was hospitalized. The crash caused a fire that damaged nearby vehicles and storage containers.

The earlier collision near Nordhoff Street and De Soto Avenue involved a Metro bus and an SUV and resulted in multiple deaths and injuries. The two emergencies occurred within the same Chatsworth area on Tuesday evening.

The Los Angeles helicopter crash remains under investigation, and authorities have not yet announced a final explanation for why the NBC helicopter went down. Further findings from federal aviation investigators are expected to provide more information about the circumstances surrounding the tragedy.

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