Additional Coverage:
- NBC reporter Eliana Moreno got engaged a year before she died in horror helicopter crash (themirror.com)
NBC Los Angeles Reporter Eliana Moreno Engaged Less Than a Year Before Fatal Helicopter Crash
Eliana Moreno, a respected NBC4 and Telemundo 52 aerial reporter, tragically lost her life in a helicopter crash on September 15 near Chatsworth in the San Fernando Valley. Moreno, 38, and her pilot, George Marciniw, both employees of Angel City Air, were covering a separate fatal traffic accident involving a Metro bus when their helicopter went down. A third victim, a pedestrian on the ground, also died in the incident.
Moreno had recently celebrated a major milestone in her personal life-her engagement to partner Robert Barrientos. Social media posts reveal that the couple had been engaged for less than a year, with Moreno announcing the news in October 2025.
Her Instagram post featured heartfelt photos and videos from a trip to Nashville, Tennessee, where Barrientos proposed. She captioned the post, “I will remember this trip to Tennessee for the rest of my life,” alongside a ring and heart emoji.
The news of Moreno’s passing has prompted an outpouring of sympathy across social platforms. Fans and colleagues alike have shared condolences, remembering her both as a skilled journalist and a cherished individual.
One commenter wrote, “RIP Eli. Sending love and light to the family and close friends as they work through this tragedy.”
Another added, “Rest in peace beautiful Eliana.”
NBC anchors expressed their sorrow during broadcasts, highlighting Moreno’s dedication and connection to the community. “Tonight, both people on board and a third person on the ground were killed.
Our crew was there covering a deadly crash involving a bus and an SUV just a couple of blocks away,” they said. A shared photo honored Moreno and Marciniw, describing them as “dear colleagues.”
Telemundo’s statement described Moreno as “a wonderful human being” whose professionalism was “impressive,” calling her “without a doubt-the best airborne reporter in all of Los Angeles.”
Moreno, known on Instagram as “Eli in the Heli,” graduated from Chapman University in 2010 with degrees in broadcast journalism and political science. Before joining NBC, she worked for KCAL 9 and KCBS 2.
She had been flying with pilot Marciniw since 2023, covering police chases, fires, and traffic events from the air. Marciniw was a Southern California native and Burbank High School alumnus.
The tragedy has deeply affected the Los Angeles community. Mayor Karen Bass commented, “Losing five Angelenos is very painful.
And I know this community of Chatsworth, hit hard, will be grieving for some time.” Governor Gavin Newsom also expressed condolences and gratitude to emergency responders.
The National Transportation Safety Board and Federal Aviation Administration are set to begin an investigation into the crash. This incident marks one of several fatal news helicopter crashes in the U.S. since 2000, which have claimed 16 lives, including recent accidents in New Jersey and North Carolina.
As authorities work to determine the cause, the loss of Eliana Moreno and her colleagues serves as a somber reminder of the risks journalists take to bring critical news to the public.