A deadly chain of events unfolded Tuesday in Los Angeles when a news helicopter covering a fatal bus collision crashed in the San Fernando Valley neighborhood of Chatsworth, resulting in three deaths, including two crew members and a pedestrian. The incidents began earlier in the afternoon with a motor vehicle crash that killed two and left several injured, followed hours later by the helicopter accident that claimed additional lives.
Authorities say Bailee Lynn Rios, 36, of Simi Valley, was arrested on suspicion of murder after she allegedly drove the wrong way on a busy avenue, ran a red light, struck another vehicle, and then collided with a city bus. The bus crash, which occurred around 5 p.m., killed two passengers, identified as Gage Weida, 31, and Daniel Castillo, 46, and injured six others. Witnesses reported that at least one bus passenger was fully ejected from the vehicle during the impact.
Shortly before 7 p.m., the NBC4 and Telemundo 52 news helicopter used to cover the accident crashed nearby in a commercial area of Chatsworth, engulfing four vehicles and two storage containers in flames. The helicopter, a Eurocopter AS350 operated by Angel City Air, was carrying aerial photojournalist Eliana Moreno and pilot George Marciniw. Both were killed in the crash, along with a 29-year-old pedestrian on the ground, identified as Edy Gutierrez Mejia by the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner’s Office.
The helicopter had taken off around 5:20 p.m. to cover the earlier bus collision. Video and audio captured during the live broadcast show Moreno reacting to a warning alarm indicating dangerously low rotor RPM—a critical safety parameter for helicopters. According to aviation experts, this warning suggests the main rotor was not spinning fast enough, pointing toward a possible engine failure. In the final moments, Moreno’s voice can be heard expressing alarm, with phrases such as “uh oh” and “You can’t pull up?” before the video feed abruptly ended as the aircraft lost altitude.
Eyewitnesses described the helicopter’s descent as unusual, with one saying it appeared to be losing control before crashing into a parking lot and igniting a powerful fire. Firefighters arrived quickly with over 70 personnel responding to the blaze, which was described as one of the most intense in recent memory for the area.
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass called the day “heartbreaking,” noting the loss of five people across both incidents. She extended condolences to the families and praised first responders for their efforts. California Governor Gavin Newsom also issued a statement expressing sympathy to victims and their families and thanking emergency crews.
The National Transportation Safety Board and the Federal Aviation Administration have launched a joint investigation to determine the cause of the helicopter crash. Officials are reviewing maintenance records, weather data, pilot training, and security footage to understand the sequence of events leading to the tragedy. Meanwhile, the case against Rios has been forwarded to the district attorney’s office for prosecution decisions. Bail is set at $4 million, and no attorney has yet commented on her behalf.
The tragedies mark a somber day for Los Angeles and highlight the risks faced by emergency responders and journalists covering breaking news from the air.