Los Angeles NBC helicopter seen plummeting toward ground in dashcam video

Dashcam Footage Captures Helicopter’s Descent Before Fiery Crash in Los Angeles

A passenger’s dash‑camera in a Los Angeles neighborhood recorded a dramatic and fatal plunge of an NBC‑4 and Telemundo‑52 news helicopter, giving investigators a rare glimpse of the moments leading to a blaze that killed three people, including the helicopter’s pilot, a reporter, and a ground witness.

The video, obtained by KTLA from the driver, Year Valencia, shows the Eurocopter AS350 dropping sharply from the sky over the Chatsworth area of the San Fernando Valley. The helicopter was airborne at the time of a separate collision involving a city bus and an SUV that had taken place only hours earlier.

“It’s a little dot on the video. It’s a crisp video and it just goes down,” Valencia told reporters. “God, it’s so close, it could have happened to anyone. My parents walk down the street.” The clip shows the aircraft descending in a tight spiral before impact, the aircraft’s interior lights flashing and a warning alarm audible on the recording.

Crash and Aftermath

The helicopter struck a storage facility, igniting a fire that quickly spread to at least four vehicles and two storage containers nearby. The blaze tore through the property and forced firefighters to bring the fire under control within the hour.

Three people lost their lives: Eliana Moreno, a 52‑year‑old reporter for NBC‑4 and Telemundo; pilot George Marciniw; and 29‑year‑old Edy Gutierrez Mejia, who was on the ground when the aircraft hit the storage complex. No other injuries were reported at the crash site, but the surrounding area suffered extensive damage.

Link to Earlier Collision

The helicopter was covering a fatal collision involving an SUV and a city bus that had occurred roughly two hours before the crash. In that incident, the SUV, driven by 36‑year‑old Bailee Lynn Rios, was traveling the wrong way, ran a red light, and struck another vehicle before colliding with a city bus. The bus collision claimed the lives of two pedestrians and injured six others.

Rios was arrested on murder charges late Tuesday night. The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office is reviewing the case to determine what formal charges will be filed.

Investigations Underway

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has opened investigations into both the helicopter crash and the earlier bus collision. The final segment of the helicopter’s dash‑cam footage, which includes an alarm sounding inside the aircraft as it began to lose altitude, is expected to provide critical evidence.

“Recording the sounds captured on the aircraft’s final video could help us understand what happened,” said NTSB investigator Fabian Salazar. “The tones we heard are consistent with changes in engine speed and cockpit advisory alerts.”

The helicopter was operated by Angel City Air and was being used for aerial coverage of the earlier incident. The NTSB is continuing to examine the aircraft’s flight data, mechanical systems, and pilot actions leading up to the crash.

Community Reactions

Local residents described the crash as a shocking, “close‑call” event. Valencia, who was driving home that night, said he was “in shock” when he saw the helicopter’s descent. “It could have happened to anyone,” he added, recalling the safety of his parents who were walking on the sidewalk at the time.

Firefighters and police were on scene for hours, dealing with the intense blaze and ensuring the safety of the surrounding neighborhood. The storage facility owner reported that the damage was severe and that rebuilding would take several weeks.

Looking Ahead

The NTSB will continue to analyze the footage and gather additional data to determine the root cause of the crash. The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office remains in the process of deciding whether to file homicide charges against the SUV driver.

In the meantime, the community mourns the loss of a dedicated reporter, a skilled pilot, and a young man who had just begun his adult life. The incident serves as a stark reminder of the fragile balance between life and death in the high‑risk world of aerial news coverage.