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LOS ANGELES () — Federal investigators with the National Transportation Safety Board are working to determine what caused NBC4’s helicopter to crash while covering a deadly collision involving a Metro bus Tuesday evening.
Investigators are focusing on video and audio captured by the helicopter’s own camera, which could be crucial to revealing what went wrong.
Reporter Eliana Moreno, pilot George Marciniw and bystander Edy Gutierrez Mejia died in the crash.
As the investigation continues, 7 helicopter reporter Chris Cristi shared a personal perspective on the tragedy.
Cristi previously worked at KNBC and said he flew many times in the same helicopter involved in the crash. He also knew Moreno and Marciniw.
Cristi was quick to share his thoughts on the loss of his two friends and the close-knit community of Southland helicopter journalists.
“I met George, the pilot, a number of times at different fuel stops along the way, and he’s always been just a real nice guy,” Cristi said. “He comes up to you and shakes your hand.”
Cristi also remembered Moreno.
“Eliana was just a sweetheart. She was so zealous, and so in love with what she did for a living,” he added.
Cristi said the tragedy has been especially difficult for those in the aviation and television news industries.
“This is a hard day for everybody. It’s a small business. The news industry is tiny, and the helicopter community is even tinier,” he said.
After covering the Chatsworth bus crash in AIR7, Cristi and his crew returned to base. They were then notified that a helicopter had gone down near the scene of the bus crash.
“This shiver through my body. I was just there. I knew exactly who was flying over there. What happened? How could this be?” Cristi said.
Cristi continued reporting from the crash scene, not knowing for sure who was down there until he saw evidence identifying the aircraft.
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“There was a… peacock on the ground. There was a logo, NBC logo, on the fuselage of the body that was clearly identifiable,” he said.
Minutes later, AIR7 was given clearance to leave the scene.
Cristi returned home to his wife and 5-year-old daughter, who had left him several voice messages.
“The first one says, ‘Daddy, I love you to infinity and back.’ The next one was a little more demanding. The next one said, ‘Come home early daddy.’ I walked in the door, and she doesn’t know what happened. She doesn’t know what happened, but she jumped out of bed and into my arms,” Cristi said.
Despite the tragedy, Cristi said it has not changed his commitment to the work.
Cristi acknowledged the risks associated with the job but emphasized the trust among crews and pilots.
“The risk is out there, but you know, you’re able to compartmentalize risk and look at risk in a certain way when you do this job,” he said.
“I have pilots who I trust with my life, and we have a crew that I would, you know, go to battle with,” Cristi added.
Cristi said the mission of informing the public remains unchanged, even in the face of tragedy.
“This is the job. This is part of the job to report, to get the word out, and you know, and just be of service to the public,” he said. “I think this is what I was born to do.”
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