Updated 1w+ ago · Other

Exclusive | Pilot's Five-Second Decision May Have Caused NBC Crash

A news helicopter covering a deadly bus crash in Los Angeles went down near a storage facility in Chatsworth on Tuesday, killing at least three people and sparking a fire.

At least 3 people died in the helicopter crash; 1 was outside the aircraft.
2 people were transported to a hospital after the helicopter crash.
4 vehicles and 2 storage containers on the ground burned before crews extinguished the fire.
More than 50 firefighters responded to the helicopter crash site.

Why it matters: Two separate crashes killed at least five people in Los Angeles in one evening, prompting NTSB and FAA investigations.

NBC4 identified the dead aboard as aerial journalist Eliana Moreno and pilot George Marciniw, both Angel City Air employees.
At least 8 fatal news helicopter crashes have occurred in the U.S. since 2000, killing 16 people.

How 63 sources split on this story

Source landscape

Factuality

High

Mixed

Low

Strong LeftLeftLean LeftCenterLean RightRightStrong Right

Political Bias

Coverage by lean% of 63 sources

63 sources · 139 articles · 40% Center coverage

Center coverage, 25 sources: The center focuses on factual reconstruction of both crashes, the NTSB and FAA response, and the named victims aboard the helicopter.

Left coverage, 17 sources: The left leads with the human toll and community grief, quoting Mayor Bass and Gov. Newsom at length and naming the helicopter victims by background.

San Francisco Chronicle1w+3 dead after news helicopter crashes near Los Angeles bus wreck Los Angeles Times1w+NBC4 chopper's final moments: a blaring alarm, loss of altitude and panic. Why did it crash?The Independent1w+LA news helicopter crashed in birthplace (and, arguably, epicenter) of 'eye-in-the-sky' reporting NBC News1w+NBC Los Angeles helicopter crash shatters tight-knit local news community The New York Times1w+The L.A. Helicopter Crash Highlights a Sky Full of Hazards The Boston Globe1w+LA news helicopter crashed in birthplace (and, arguably, epicenter) of ‘eye-in-the-sky’ reporting ABC News1w+Deadly LA news chopper crash: Live video 'most important evidence,' NTSB says Cleveland.com1w+TV anchors announce colleagues killed in news helicopter crash CNN1w+An engaged reporter, a soon-to-retire pilot and a young tourist: What we know about the L.A. helicopter crash victims Mediaite1w+NBC LA Team Pay Moving Tribute as Identities of Crew Members Killed in On-Air Helicopter Crash Released The Guardian1w+TV reporter and pilot who died in Los Angeles helicopter crash were covering a story Al Jazeera1w+News helicopter crash in Los Angeles kills three, injures one Boston.com1w+Helicopter crashes and kills at least 3 people near a bus crash in Los Angeles Hollywood Reporter1w+NBC4 Helicopter Crash in L.A. Leaves at Least 3 Dead, Authorities Say MSNBC1w+Helicopter crashes and bursts into flames, killing at least 3 people near an LA bus collision The Washington Post1w+3 dead after news helicopter crashes while covering L.A. bus accident Variety1w+Helicopter Crashes Near Site of Deadly Car Accident in Chatsworth

Right coverage, 21 sources: The right presents a straightforward chronology of both incidents, emphasizing official statements and the scale of the emergency response.

The Epoch Times1w+Helicopter Crashes in Los Angeles, Killing at Least 3 People New York Post1w+Mourners come together at LA vigil for lives lost in deadly Metro bus crash, NBC4 news helicopter crash Daily Mail1w+Third victim named in fiery Los Angeles helicopter crash that killed NBC journalist as officials probe live footage to find out what went wrong Fox News1w+Los Angeles NBC helicopter seen plummeting toward ground in dashcam video The Gateway Pundit1w+NBC4 News Chopper Reporter and Pilot Killed in Los Angeles Crash Identified (ATC AUDIO) * The Gateway Pundit * by Cristina Laila The Sun1w+Horrifying final moments from inside news helicopter reveal violent shakes & desperate last words of anchor before crash BizPac Review1w+NBC News helicopter was livestreaming when something went terribly wrong Breitbart News1w+TV News Helicopter Crashes in Los Angeles While Filming Bus Crash Citizen Free Press1w+NBC News helicopter crashes during live shot.Just the News1w+News helicopter crashes in LA near site of deadly bus accident, three reported dead Newsmax1w+3 People Killed When NBC, Telemundo News Helicopter Crashes While Covering LA Bus Collision One America News1w+News helicopter crashes in L.A., leaving 3 dead and 2 reportedly hospitalized RedState1w+Deadly L.A. Helicopter Crash Kills News Reporter, Pilot While Covering Tragic Accident The Daily Caller1w+Local News Helicopter Crashes During Live Reporting, Killing 3 The Daily Wire1w+Three Dead After Local News Helicopter Crash The Post Millennial1w+BREAKING: NBC LA ‘lost contact’ with reporter, pilot after NewsChopper4 crashes, killing 3 The Right Scoop1w+HORRIBLE BREAKING VIDEO – News helicopter crashes near deadly bus crash in LA, 3 dead…The Washington Times1w+3 people killed when NBC and Telemundo news helicopter crashes while covering LA bus collision The Western Journal1w+3 Dead After Local News Helicopter Crashes in Los Angeles Townhall1w+The Harrowing Final Moments of the NBCLA Chopper Crash Washington Examiner1w+Three killed as news helicopter crashes in Los Angeles

What’s next: NTSB and FAA personnel were set to arrive at the scene Wednesday to begin their investigation.

The cause of the helicopter crash remained unknown as of Tuesday night.
How many people were aboard the helicopter in total remains unconfirmed.
What caused the helicopter to go down has not been determined.
Whether the bus crash death toll rises — Metro gave CBS Los Angeles a count of three fatalities — has not been resolved.