Eliana Murillo and George Marchini, two employees of NBC4, died in the crash of a news helicopter in Chatsworth, Los Angeles. The helicopter fell to the ground while covering an accident between a metro bus and a car, and after hitting the ground, it caught fire.
Details of the Incident
The incident occurred around 7 PM on Tuesday. The helicopter was covering another accident when it suddenly crashed to the ground. Los Angeles fire officials confirmed that two other people were also taken to the hospital, but their condition is unknown.
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Murillo, who worked at NBC4 as well as Telemundo 52, was known as a prominent reporter at the network. She had dreamed of becoming a television journalist since the age of eleven and eventually graduated with a bachelor's degree in journalism and political science from Chapman University.
Reactions and Tributes
NBC4 reporter Camila Rambaldi confirmed the news on social media, stating, "We lost two amazing colleagues today." Telemundo 52 also described Murillo as an "incredible person" and stated that she was the best helicopter reporter in Los Angeles.
Marchini, the helicopter pilot, grew up in California and had been working with Murillo since 2023. He shared his flying experiences on his Facebook page and had over 30 years of experience as a helicopter flight instructor.
In a joint statement, NBC4 and Telemundo 52 expressed their condolences to the families and friends of the victims and urged the news community to support each other during this difficult time.
At the time of the incident, a witness named Zara Swansian was driving near the crash site and told reporters that the helicopter was slowly descending and did not appear to be flying normally. She also noted the intense fire at the scene, describing it as one of the most ferocious fires she had ever seen.
This incident is a significant loss not only for the families of the two victims but also for the news community. NBC 4 Los Angeles and Telemundo 52 stated in a statement that the loss of these two journalists is painful for everyone and their memory will always remain in our hearts.
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Source: independent.co.uk
