Three people were killed and one person was hospitalized Tuesday night when a helicopter covering news for NBCLA and Telemundo 52 crashed in the Los Angeles community of Chatsworth. The crash was reported just before 7 p.m. in the 9100 block of North Mason Avenue in Chastworth, a neighborhood i n northern Los Angeles, according to the Los Angeles Fire Department. NBCLA confirmed the helicopter was NewsChopper4, which is operated by Angel City Air, and was providing news coverage. Several TV news helicopters were in the west San Fernando Valley community reporting on a crash involving a Metro bus. The LAFD said the helicopter went down between two commercial buildings. The crash resulted in a fire, damaging four vehicles and two storage containers in the area. “From the helicopter itself, it’s pretty well destroyed,” LAFD public information officer Brandon Silverman said. “So we are going to have to go through the rubble and see how many victims there were on board, as well as identify the helicopter; we couldn’t even see a tail.” A witness said the helicopter erupted in a fireball immediately after striking the ground in a parking lot. Another witness recalled watching the aircraft go down. “My husband’s in law enforcement,” one woman told NBCLA. “He said the helicopter is looking strange. We noticed that it was swaying. Five seconds later… we saw large smoke.” The victims aboard the helicopter were identified as Angel City Air employees Eliana Moreno, a familiar voice for NBC4 and Telemundo 52 during the station’s aerial coverage, and pilot George Marciniw. Born in Orange County, Moreno was a 2010 graduate of Chapman University where she earned degree in broadcast journalism and political science. She joined the Angel City Air helicopter team in September 2010 and has reported for several Southern California media outlets. Marciniw grew up in Southern California, a 1974 grad of Burbank High School. They began flying together in 2023. “We are deeply saddened to share that a helicopter providing aerial news coverage for NBC4 and Telemundo 52 was involved in a fatal accident in Los Angeles on Tuesday evening,” NBC4 and Telemundo 52 Los Angeles said in a statement. “We extend our heartfelt condolences to the families, friends and colleagues of those who lost their lives.” Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass issued a statement regarding the crash. “I’m absolutely devastated by the loss of life in Chatsworth tonight,” the mayor’s statement read. “My heart is with the families and loved ones of those we lost in the tragic bus collision and helicopter crash.” Gov. Gavin Newsom also issued a statement, which read: “Our hearts are with the victims and families of tonight’s devastating Metro bus and helicopter crashes in Chatsworth, and with the entire NBC4 family. Thank you to the first responders working tirelessly tonight.” A National Transportation Safety Bureau spokesman told NBC News the federal agency is gathering information on the helicopter crash and will decide soon whether to send investigators. The cause of the crash is unclear. ...read more read less