A tragic aviation accident has claimed the lives of two NBC Los Angeles news crew members and one person on the ground after the station’s news helicopter crashed while covering a live story on Tuesday evening. The aircraft, identified as NewsChopper4, went down shortly before 7 p.m. on 15 September near North Mason Avenue, sparking a fierce fire that damaged four vehicles and two storage containers.
The two crew members on board—a pilot and a reporter—were pronounced dead at the scene. Their identities have not yet been officially released pending family notification. A third person on the ground was also killed, and authorities have not ruled out the possibility of additional casualties as investigations continue.
The crash occurred while the helicopter was providing aerial coverage of an earlier Metro bus collision at the intersection of Nordhoff Street and De Soto Avenue, an incident that had already resulted in multiple fatalities and injuries. The helicopter went down a short distance from that scene, compounding an already devastating sequence of events for emergency responders and the local community.
NBC4 and Telemundo 52, which share the helicopter, issued a joint statement expressing profound sorrow. “We are devastated by the loss of our colleagues, who were dedicated journalists and beloved members of our team,” the statement read. “Our thoughts and prayers are with their families, friends, and all those affected by this tragedy.”
California Governor Gavin Newsom offered his condolences, praising the journalists for their commitment to keeping the public informed. “This is a heartbreaking loss for California and for the journalism community,” he said.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) have launched an investigation into the cause of the crash, with preliminary inquiries focusing on weather conditions, mechanical failure, and the possibility of a mid-air collision or sudden loss of control.
The crash has sent shockwaves through the news industry, with colleagues and viewers mourning the loss of two journalists who died doing the work they loved. As the investigation unfolds, the focus will remain on understanding what went wrong—and on honouring the memory of those who lost their lives in the pursuit of the story.
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