A helicopter crash that killed three people in Los Angeles remains under investigation as authorities seek to determine the cause. The incident occurred Tuesday evening around 7 p.m. near the site of a fatal bus collision, and the helicopter belonged to a news crew covering the bus crash.
The victims included the helicopter pilot, Moreno; cameraman Marciniw; and 29-year-old Edy Gutierrez Mejia, who was on the ground when the aircraft went down. The helicopter crashed between two commercial buildings on Mason Avenue, striking a pair of truck cargo containers and igniting a fire.
Investigators have recovered the helicopter’s final recorded footage, which they consider a key piece of evidence. The video shows an aerial view of the bus crash with helicopter rotor noise in the background, followed by sounds of the engine winding down and a horn warning that may indicate low rotor speed or hydraulic failure. Moreno can be heard expressing concern and questioning whether the helicopter could pull up before the recording abruptly ends.
Experts have suggested that a mechanical failure could be responsible. The helicopter, a 22-year-old model commonly used by news and law enforcement organizations for its reliability, may have experienced an engine shutdown despite apparent fuel onboard, noted veteran pilot Zoey Tur. The resulting fire at the crash site points toward an alternative cause beyond fuel exhaustion.
Helicopter accident specialists explained that pilots typically attempt a safety maneuver called autorotation if rotors stop turning. This technique involves using upward airflow to spin the rotor blades and maintain some control during descent, similar to a gliding airplane. However, the low altitude and hovering position of this aircraft at the time of failure would have made autorotation difficult or impossible to execute effectively. According to Jack Cress, a former Marine Corps helicopter pilot and accident investigation instructor, such conditions place a pilot in a vulnerable "height-velocity curve," often deemed unsafe.
The helicopter was owned by Tiny Bubbles Aviation Inc., a company registered at Whiteman Airport in Pacoima. Lawrence Welk, an agent for the company and president of Welk Aviation—which operates news helicopters for local stations—confirmed cooperation with investigators but declined further comment.
The helicopter crash came minutes after a Metro Line 166 bus was struck in a separate collision involving an SUV. Following a chaotic response with first responders and news crews on site, witnesses reported hearing an explosion and seeing the helicopter crash and fire nearby.
Police have arrested 36-year-old Bailee Lynn Rios on suspicion of murder in connection with the SUV collision that led to the bus crash. Authorities said Rios was driving the wrong way on De Soto Avenue when she ran a red light and collided with the bus. Two bus passengers, identified as 31-year-old Gage Weida and 46-year-old Daniel Castillo of Arleta, were killed at the scene. Several others sustained serious and minor injuries.
The series of events has deeply affected the local community, with residents expressing shock over the suddenness of the tragedies. Investigations into both the bus collision and helicopter crash are ongoing.