The Chatsworth bus crash and the NBC4 news helicopter crash that followed

Active · last development Sep 23: “Fiancé remembers NBC4 LA reporter Eliana Moreno one week after Chatsworth, California news helicopter crash”

On September 15, 2026, an SUV driving the wrong way slammed into a Los Angeles Metro bus in the Chatsworth neighborhood, killing two riders,[1] and an NBC4 news helicopter covering the crash went down nearby, killing its pilot, its reporter and a bystander on the ground.[2][3] The driver was charged with murder, and federal investigators are examining why the helicopter crashed.[4][5]

What this arc covers

The September 15, 2026 crash in the Chatsworth neighborhood of Los Angeles in which an SUV driving the wrong way struck a Metro bus, killing two riders, and the crash of the NBC4 news helicopter covering it, which killed its pilot, its reporter and a bystander: the murder charges against the driver, the federal investigation into the helicopter crash, and the tributes to the victims.

Earliest story we hold Sep 15, 2026 · 12 stories · 71 independent sources (counted once each) · 8 days

Part ofLos AngelesNational Transportation Safety BoardSimi ValleyUkraine

Background

On the evening of September 15, 2026, an SUV sped down the wrong side of a road in Chatsworth, in Los Angeles, ran a red light and struck a Metro bus, killing two passengers and injuring several others.[1][6] Security footage showed the SUV entering the intersection without any apparent attempt to stop.[6]

An NBC4 news helicopter covering the bus crash went down and burst into flames.[2] It killed the pilot, George Marciniw, 70, the reporter Eliana Moreno and a bystander on the ground.[3][7] The National Transportation Safety Board said video from the helicopter would be critical evidence in its investigation.[5]

Prosecutors said the SUV's driver, Bailee Lynn Rios, 36, was impaired by drugs and charged her with murder;[4][1] she faces two counts of second-degree murder as well as driving under the influence, and her arraignment was delayed by her medical condition.[8] Hundreds gathered at a vigil for the five people killed,[9] the Los Angeles Rams honored Moreno and Marciniw before a game,[10] and Moreno's fiancé shared a tribute a week later.[11] The crash drew attention to Los Angeles's long history of news coverage from helicopters.[12] The cause of the helicopter crash had not been determined.

Supporting stories (12)
  1. SUV driver charged with murder in Chatsworth Metro bus crash due in court
  2. Los Angeles news helicopter crash: What we know about victims, investigation
  3. Mass held at Ukrainian church in Los Angeles honoring NBC4 helicopter pilot George Marciniw, reporter Eliana Moreno
  4. Driver who slammed into LA bus before news helicopter crash to face murder charges, prosecutor says
  5. Video from NBC4 news helicopter is critical evidence in deadly crash investigation: NTSB
  6. New video shows wrong-way driver slam into LA bus at 'freeway speeds'
  7. Coroner provides official cause of death for NBC reporter Eliana Moreno after horrific helicopter crash
  8. Chatsworth Metro bus crash: Bailee Rios due in court on murder charges
  9. Loved ones gather in vigil to honor Chatsworth bus crash, news helicopter crash victims
  10. L.A. Rams honor NBC4 crew ahead of Monday night game
  11. Fiancé remembers NBC4 LA reporter Eliana Moreno one week after Chatsworth, California news helicopter crash
  12. LA news helicopter crashed in birthplace (and, arguably, epicenter) of 'eye-in-the-sky' reporting

Overview updated Oct 1, 2026

Part of Air crashes

  1. The Azerbaijan Airlines crash and Russia's role in itDec 25, 2024 – Oct 9, 2025
  2. The Hudson River sightseeing helicopter crash that killed sixApr 10, 2025 – Jul 16, 2026
  3. The Louisville UPS plane crash and the grounding of the MD-11Nov 4, 2025 – May 19, 2026
  4. The Chatsworth bus crash and the NBC4 news helicopter crash that followedThis arcSep 15 – Sep 23, 2026

Where it standsnewest first · each bar runs left to right by leaning

Sep 23Fiancé remembers NBC4 LA reporter Eliana Moreno one week after Chatsworth, California news helicopter crash9 articles · 1 independent sources
0 left, 1 center, 0 right
Sep 21– 22Coroner provides official cause of death for NBC reporter Eliana Moreno after horrific helicopter crash2 articles · 1 independent sources
0 left, 0 center, 1 right
Sep 21– 22L.A. Rams honor NBC4 crew ahead of Monday night game4 articles · 4 independent sources
0 left, 3 center, 1 right

Key momentsthe most covered; every story is below

  1. Sep 15 – 18Driver who slammed into LA bus before news helicopter crash to face murder charges, prosecutor says67 articles · 26 independent sources
    1. Sep 152 killed, multiple people hurt in crash involving Metro bus in Chatsworth
    2. Sep 16Driver arrested in a bus collision that happened before a deadly news helicopter crash in LA
    3. Sep 18Driver who slammed into LA Metro bus was impaired by drugs, faces murder charges: DA
  2. Sep 15 – 19Los Angeles news helicopter crash: What we know about victims, investigation234 articles · 84 independent sources
  3. Sep 16 – 18Loved ones gather in vigil to honor Chatsworth bus crash, news helicopter crash victims9 articles · 5 independent sources
    1. Sep 16Five Killed in Chatsworth Crashes; Victims Named
    2. Sep 18Emotional vigil held for NBC reporter and others killed in helicopter and LA Metro bus crash
  4. Sep 16 – 21SUV driver charged with murder in Chatsworth Metro bus crash due in court18 articles · 16 independent sources
    1. Sep 16SUV Driver Faces Murder Allegations in Bus Crash
    2. Sep 18The driver who slammed into an LA bus before a news helicopter crash is charged with murder
  5. Sep 17LA news helicopter crashed in birthplace (and, arguably, epicenter) of 'eye-in-the-sky' reporting6 articles · 6 independent sources

Who covered it, over timeindependent sources per week, by side

Sep 14Sep 21

LeftCenterRight

Point at or tap a week to see its count by side.

Every week as a table
Week ofLeftCenterRightArticles
Sep 14, 2026164213335
Sep 21, 202604133

23% left · 59% center · 18% right of 71 independent sources among the outlets we track, across 12 stories.

Every storyoldest first

  1. September 2026

    Sep 15– 18Driver who slammed into LA bus before news helicopter crash to face murder charges, prosecutor says67 articles · 26 independent sources
    3 left, 12 center, 2 right
  2. Sep 15– 19Los Angeles news helicopter crash: What we know about victims, investigation234 articles · 84 independent sources
    13 left, 34 center, 13 right
  3. Sep 16– 18Loved ones gather in vigil to honor Chatsworth bus crash, news helicopter crash victims9 articles · 5 independent sources
    0 left, 3 center, 2 right
  4. Sep 16– 18Video from NBC4 news helicopter is critical evidence in deadly crash investigation: NTSB4 articles · 2 independent sources
    0 left, 2 center, 0 right
  5. Sep 16– 21SUV driver charged with murder in Chatsworth Metro bus crash due in court18 articles · 16 independent sources
    2 left, 8 center, 1 right
  6. Sep 16– 17New video shows wrong-way driver slam into LA bus at 'freeway speeds'10 articles · 4 independent sources
    0 left, 2 center, 0 right
  7. Sep 17LA news helicopter crashed in birthplace (and, arguably, epicenter) of 'eye-in-the-sky' reporting6 articles · 6 independent sources
    1 left, 0 center, 0 right
  9. Sep 21– 24Chatsworth Metro bus crash: Bailee Rios due in court on murder charges8 articles · 4 independent sources
    0 left, 4 center, 0 right
  10. Sep 21– 22L.A. Rams honor NBC4 crew ahead of Monday night game4 articles · 4 independent sources
    0 left, 3 center, 1 right
  11. Sep 21– 22Coroner provides official cause of death for NBC reporter Eliana Moreno after horrific helicopter crash2 articles · 1 independent sources
    0 left, 0 center, 1 right
  12. Sep 23Fiancé remembers NBC4 LA reporter Eliana Moreno one week after Chatsworth, California news helicopter crash9 articles · 1 independent sources
    0 left, 1 center, 0 right