What Pilot George Marciniw Discussed with a Longtime Friend Before the LA Helicopter Crash – And Who the Third Victim Was
The most haunting details emerged only after the initial shock, as loved ones began recounting the ordinary plans, familiar routines, and unfinished hopes that had been interrupted without warning. What they shared made the loss feel even more painfully personal.
In the aftermath of the devastating helicopter crash in Chatsworth, new details have begun revealing just how many lives were changed in an instant. One victim had only arrived in Los Angeles hours earlier, while another had recently spoken with an old friend about something that would soon take on heartbreaking significance.
As families and friends continue to mourn, the stories behind the three people who died are bringing an even more personal dimension to the tragedy.
The aircraft had been providing aerial coverage for NBC4 and Telemundo 52, while its crew was reporting on a fatal collision involving a Los Angeles Metro bus and a passenger vehicle.
George Marciniw was piloting the helicopter, while Eliana Moreno was reporting. Both, unfortunately, passed away as a result of the crash.
The Third Victim Had Arrived in Los Angeles Hours Earlier
The third person killed in the September 15, 2026 tragedy was Edy Fernando Gutiérrez Mejía, a 29-year-old Guatemalan tourist, Univision reported.
His identity was confirmed by the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner’s Office, while the Guatemalan Consulate also corroborated to N+ Univision Los Angeles that he was one of its nationals.
Gutiérrez Mejía had reportedly arrived in Los Angeles just hours before the accident. He was on the ground when the news helicopter crashed shortly before 7 p.m. near Mason Avenue and Nordhoff Street in Chatsworth.
Two People Traveling with Him Were Also Hurt
Gutiérrez Mejía was not alone in Los Angeles. Two other Guatemalan citizens — identified as his cousin and a friend — were also injured and transported for medical attention following the crash. The Guatemalan consular representation was reportedly providing them with guidance and assistance as they dealt with what happened.
But Gutiérrez Mejía’s family soon faced another painful reality. According to Univision, the consular representation could not provide financial assistance toward transporting his body back to Guatemala because he had been in the United States on a visa.
For relatives already reeling from his sudden death, it creates another burden at an already overwhelming time.
His Family Had Seen Him That Same Morning
From Cuilapa, in Guatemala’s Santa Rosa department, Aura Estrada — identified as the aunt of Gutiérrez Mejía’s partner — described just how difficult the news is for those back home to comprehend. She said family members are “in disbelief.”
“Seeing him in the morning and then at night, the news that he was dead,” she reflected. Gutiérrez Mejía had traveled to Los Angeles for work. He was reportedly arranging shipments of clothing, cars, and spare parts to Guatemala. But when relatives spoke about the 29-year-old, they remembered much more than his work.