Family of NBC reporter killed in fiery helicopter crash shares heartbreak in first public statement since tragedy

The family of NBCLA helicopter reporter Eliana Moreno broke its silence after her tragic death following the helicopter crash Tuesday.

“Since she was 11 years old, Eliana dreamed of becoming a news reporter. Through hard work and courage, she turned that dream into a reality,” her family wrote in a statement posted by her brother Johan Moreno on X.

“We find comfort in knowing that Eliana left this world doing the very thing she loved, pursuing the passion she carried with her since she was a little girl,” they added.

Eliana was on the NBC helicopter, which was covering a T-bone crash of an SUV into a Metro bus, when it fell out of the sky moments later, killing reporter her, pilot George Marciniw and pedestrian Edy Gutierrez Mejia.

“We are infinitely proud of her and feel incredibly blessed to have had the privilege of loving her and calling her ours,” the family added.

The 38-year-old news reporter leaves behind five brothers and sisters. She also had a fiancé, stepchildren and dogs.

Moreno’s brother had previously shared a heartbreaking tribute to his sister following the crash.

“RIP sis, I will love you to the end of time,” he wrote on X. “My family and I just went through the worst day of our lives. We appreciate all the support and love,” he added.

Johan also warned people against sending money to online fundraisers claiming to be connected to the family.

“At this time, our family and her fiancé are not collecting monetary donations,” he wrote. “Any online donation pages are not endorsed by our family.”

Moreno had been engaged to Robert Barrientos for nearly a year, having announced their engagement in October 2025.

The veteran aerial reporter had built a career covering some of Southern California’s biggest breaking news stories from the sky.

Moreno worked for NBC4 Los Angeles and Telemundo 52 and had been an aerial reporter with Angel City Air Inc., the company that operated NBC’s NewsChopper 4, since 2010.

She graduated from Chapman University in 2010 with degrees in broadcast journalism and political science before later working for KCAL 9 and KCBS 2.

Moreno ultimately became known to viewers as “Eli in the Heli,” frequently documenting police pursuits, brush fires, crashes and other breaking news from above Los Angeles.

Her colleagues at Telemundo paid tribute to the reporter following her death, describing her as an exceptional journalist and beloved colleague.

Moreno had previously said that becoming an aerial reporter was “the best job in the world.”

Now, her family says she died doing the work she had dreamed of pursuing since she was a child.

The devastating crash happened Tuesday as Moreno and Marciniw were covering a deadly collision involving an SUV and a Metro bus in the Chatsworth area.

The helicopter later crashed into a parking lot between two warehouses and burst into flames.

The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating the crash. The cause remains under investigation.

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