Veteran NBC Anchor Breaks Down at Scene After Learning Colleagues Were Killed in Los Angeles Helicopter Crash

A veteran NBC anchor sat broken in a police car after learning his colleagues had just died in a tragic helicopter crash in Los Angeles’ Chatsworth neighborhood.Jose Gomez KNN

Veteran NBC4 anchor Robert Kovacik struggled to contain his emotions while reporting from the scene of a deadly helicopter crash in Los Angeles after learning that two longtime colleagues were among those killed.

Video from Chatsworth showed Kovacik wiping tears from his eyes before sitting inside a police vehicle with an officer nearby. He had worked alongside reporter Eliana Moreno and pilot George Marciniw for years, turning what began as another breaking-news assignment into an intensely personal tragedy.

Moreno, 38, and Marciniw were aboard the news helicopter Tuesday while covering a separate bus collision when the aircraft crashed. Authorities later identified a third victim as 29-year-old pedestrian Edy Gutierrez Mejia.

A Reporter Suddenly Covering the Loss of His Own Colleagues

The anchor, NBC’s Robert Kovacik, reported from the scene Tuesday night. Kovacik had worked alongside the pair for years. Kovacik sat feet away from the crash in a police car. Video footage caught him rubbing tears away from his eyes before sitting in a police car with an officer.Jose Gomez KNN

Kovacik was already at the scene Tuesday night when the gravity of what had happened became clear.

Footage captured him just feet from the crash site, visibly emotional and wiping away tears. According to the report, Moreno and Marciniw had worked together since 2023 and accumulated hundreds of hours in the air together. Kovacik, meanwhile, has been with NBC since 2004.

When the studio returned to him for a live report later that evening, Kovacik attempted to continue doing his job despite the loss.

“You think about it ladies, as we deal with this day of dueling tragedies here in Chatsworth,” he began, explaining that the team had been preparing for NBC4’s 7 p.m. broadcast.

He described members of the community, fellow journalists, firefighters, police officers and city officials gathering at the scene.

Kovacik eventually signed off with glassy eyes, telling the anchors, “Let’s go back to you.”

Confusion in the First Moments After the Crash

NBC reporter Eliana Moreno, 38, and helicopter pilot George Marciniw, passed away Tuesday after their helicopter crashed while covering a bus collision.George Marciniw / Facebook

Before the helicopter’s identity was confirmed, Kovacik had appeared shaken as reporters tried to determine what had happened.

“I just saw a colleague of mine from ABC in tears and concern,” he said.

At that point, Kovacik stressed that they did not yet know where the aircraft had come from—or even whether it was a news helicopter.

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass later embraced Kovacik at the scene, while other officials also offered their support.

Livestream Captured the Helicopter’s Final Moments

Kovacik appeared out of sorts when the crash initially happened.Eliana Moreno / Facebook

Footage from the helicopter’s livestream captured disturbing moments shortly before the crash.

A woman believed to be Moreno could be heard urging the pilot to “pull,” before asking, “What? You can’t pull up?”

The livestream then appeared to shake seconds before the aircraft went down.

The exact cause of the crash has not been determined. Although one veteran pilot publicly speculated about a possible engine failure, that has not been established as the cause. The National Transportation Safety Board is leading the investigation.

NBC4 Mourns Members of Its Team

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass consoled Kovacik on the scene with a hug along with other officials.CHRIS TORRES/EPA/Shutterstock

NBC4 and Telemundo 52 confirmed that a helicopter providing aerial news coverage for the stations had been involved in the fatal accident.

A woman, now believed to be Moreno, was heard telling the pilot to “pull” before she added, “What? You can’t pull up?”CHRIS TORRES/EPA/Shutterstock

In a statement, the stations said they were “deeply saddened” and extended condolences to the families, friends and colleagues of those who died.

For Kovacik, however, the tragedy unfolded in an unusually painful way. He arrived to report on breaking news and ended the night sitting near the scene in tears, mourning colleagues he had spent years working beside.