Eliana Moreno was an American aerial photojournalist and television reporter whose voice became one of the most familiar sounds in Southern California breaking news. Flying aboard NewsChopper 4 for NBC4 Los Angeles and Telemundo 52, she narrated everything from police pursuits to brush fires to freeway pileups from thousands of feet above the ground, reporting fluently in both English and Spanish.
For more than a decade, Moreno turned a childhood dream into one of the most specialized careers in broadcast journalism. Her colleagues affectionately called her “Eli in the Heli,” and Telemundo described her as the best airborne reporter in all of Los Angeles. Tragically, she lost her life on September 15, 2026, while doing the very job she loved, when the news helicopter she was riding in went down in Chatsworth while covering a fatal collision.
This biography covers Eliana Moreno’s age, career, education, personal life, fiancé, net worth, height and weight, and the legacy she left behind in American broadcast journalism.
Eliana Moreno Wiki and Biography
Eliana Moreno was born and raised in Orange County, California, where she stayed rooted throughout her life and career. From the age of eleven, she knew she wanted to become a television news reporter, and she pursued that goal with remarkable single-mindedness. She graduated from Chapman University in 2010 with dual degrees in broadcast journalism and political science from the university’s Dodge College of Film and Media Arts.
| Full Name | Eliana Moreno |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | Not publicly disclosed (she was 38 at the time of her death in September 2026) |
| Age | 38 (at the time of her passing) |
| Birthplace | Orange County, California, United States |
| Nationality | American |
| Ethnicity | Latina |
| Zodiac Sign | Not publicly disclosed |
| Profession | Aerial Photojournalist, Television News Reporter |
| Years Active | 2010 – 2026 |
| Boyfriend/Partner / Relationship Status | Engaged to Robert Barrientos (announced October 2025) |
Eliana Moreno Height, Weight, and Physical Appearance
Moreno worked almost entirely from the air, so her public image was defined less by red carpets and more by the sound of her voice narrating breaking news over the whir of helicopter rotors. No reliable source has published her exact height, weight, or body measurements, and this article does not estimate them. What viewers did know was her warm on-air presence and her signature style of calm, empathetic reporting, even in the most chaotic moments.
| Height | Not publicly disclosed |
|---|---|
| Weight | Not publicly disclosed |
| Body Measurements | Not publicly disclosed |
| Eye Color | Not publicly disclosed |
| Hair Color | Dark brown |
| Shoe Size | Not publicly disclosed |
| Distinctive Features | Known by viewers as “Eli in the Heli”; long dark hair; calm, warm on-air delivery |
Eliana Moreno Career
Moreno’s path to the sky began on the ground. After graduating from Chapman University in 2010, she reported and anchored for several media outlets in Orange County in both English and Spanish. She joined Angel City Air, the company that operated NewsChopper 4, in September 2010, and her LinkedIn profile recorded that she worked over the years as a camerawoman, anchor, producer, and spokeswoman. She was fluent in Spanish and skilled in professional editing software including AVID and Final Cut.
She went on to work for KCAL 9 and KCBS 2 before taking to the skies with NBC4 and Telemundo 52, beginning her aerial reporting role around 2018. From the helicopter, she covered the stories that define Los Angeles breaking news: police pursuits winding through city streets, brush fires cresting ridges, traffic collisions, and wildfires. In 2022, she won a Radio Television Digital News Association (RTDNA) award for her aerial coverage of a deadly crash in Windsor Hills. She began flying alongside veteran pilot George Marciniw in 2023.
On the evening of September 15, 2026, Moreno and Marciniw were aboard NewsChopper 4 covering a fatal collision in which an SUV had struck a Metro bus in downtown Los Angeles. Just before 7 p.m., the aircraft, a Eurocopter AS 350 B2 operated by Angel City Air, went down between two commercial buildings in Chatsworth, killing Moreno and Marciniw. A 29-year-old pedestrian on the ground, Edy Gutierrez Mejia, was also killed. The National Transportation Safety Board opened a formal investigation into the cause of the crash, which remained open as of October 2026.
| Profession | Aerial Photojournalist, Television News Reporter |
|---|---|
| Career Started | 2010 (joined Angel City Air in September 2010) |
| Known For | Aerial breaking-news reporting on NewsChopper 4 for NBC4 Los Angeles and Telemundo 52; nickname “Eli in the Heli” |
| Main Platforms | NBC4 Los Angeles (KNBC), Telemundo 52, KCAL 9, KCBS 2 |
| Key Milestones | Graduated Chapman University (2010); joined Angel City Air (2010); worked KCAL 9 and KCBS 2; began flying with NewsChopper 4 (circa 2018); RTDNA award for Windsor Hills crash coverage (2022) |
Eliana Moreno Net Worth
Moreno’s exact net worth was never publicly disclosed, and no credible outlet has published a verified figure. As a veteran aerial photojournalist and reporter employed by Angel City Air and appearing on NBC4 and Telemundo 52, her income came from a highly specialized profession that combines broadcast journalism, aerial photography, and live on-air reporting. Estimates published on some websites are not supported by any reliable source and should be treated with caution.
| Estimated Net Worth | Undisclosed (not publicly reported) |
|---|---|
| Main Income Sources | Broadcast journalism salary; aerial photojournalism for Angel City Air / NBC4 Los Angeles and Telemundo 52 |
10 Interesting Facts About Eliana Moreno
- She decided she wanted to be a television news reporter at just eleven years old, and she never wavered from that dream.
- She graduated from Chapman University in 2010 with dual degrees in broadcast journalism and political science.
- Before flying, she reported and anchored for several Orange County outlets in both English and Spanish.
- She joined Angel City Air, the operator of NewsChopper 4, in September 2010, the same year she graduated.
- She was fluent in Spanish and professionally skilled in AVID and Final Cut editing software.
- Her LinkedIn profile listed her past roles as camerawoman, anchor, producer, and spokeswoman.
- Viewers and colleagues knew her by the nickname “Eli in the Heli” on social media.
- In 2022, she won an RTDNA award for her aerial coverage of a deadly crash in Windsor Hills.
- She had been engaged to Robert Barrientos since October 2025, and she loved her two dogs, Penrose and Fullerton.
- After her death, Chapman University established a scholarship fund in her memory to support students at Dodge College of Film and Media Arts, announced by her family in October 2026.
Conclusion
Eliana Moreno spent more than a decade doing exactly what she had dreamed of since she was a child: reporting the news. Her work from NewsChopper 4 gave Southern California viewers their first look at the region’s biggest breaking stories, and she did it with professionalism, warmth, and courage in both English and Spanish.
Her death on September 15, 2026, alongside pilot George Marciniw while covering a fatal bus collision, shook the Los Angeles news community and the viewers who trusted her voice. Tributes from colleagues, family, and fans poured in, and a memorial was held at Whiteman Airport in Pacoima, where the news helicopters she flew with were based. The scholarship established in her name at Chapman University ensures that her legacy will continue to open doors for the next generation of journalists who share her dream.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was Eliana Moreno?
Eliana Moreno was an American aerial photojournalist and television news reporter for NBC4 Los Angeles and Telemundo 52. She was best known for reporting breaking news from aboard the stations’ NewsChopper 4 helicopter.
What was Eliana Moreno’s age?
She was 38 years old at the time of her death on September 15, 2026. Her exact date of birth has not been publicly disclosed.
What was Eliana Moreno’s cause of death?
According to the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner’s office, she died of blunt force trauma in a helicopter crash. Thermal injuries and the inhalation of combustion products were also listed as significant conditions.
What happened in the Chatsworth helicopter crash?
On September 15, 2026, NewsChopper 4, carrying Moreno and pilot George Marciniw, went down between two commercial buildings in Chatsworth while covering a fatal collision between an SUV and a Metro bus. Both people aboard and a pedestrian on the ground, Edy Gutierrez Mejia, were killed. The NTSB is investigating the cause.
Where did Eliana Moreno go to college?
She graduated from Chapman University in 2010 with dual degrees in broadcast journalism and political science from the university’s Dodge College of Film and Media Arts.
Which stations did Eliana Moreno work for?
She worked as an aerial reporter for NBC4 Los Angeles (KNBC) and Telemundo 52 via Angel City Air, and earlier in her career she worked for KCAL 9 and KCBS 2 and several Orange County media outlets.
Was Eliana Moreno married?
She was not married. She had been engaged to Robert Barrientos since October 2025, when she announced their engagement on social media.
Did Eliana Moreno have children?
She did not have children of her own. According to her family, she left behind five siblings, a fiancé, stepchildren, and her two beloved dogs, Penrose and Fullerton.
What awards did Eliana Moreno win?
In 2022, she won a Radio Television Digital News Association (RTDNA) award for her aerial coverage of a deadly crash in Windsor Hills.
What is Eliana Moreno’s net worth?
Her net worth was never publicly disclosed, and no credible source has published a verified figure. She earned her living as a professional aerial photojournalist and television reporter.
Last Updated: October 2026
Fact-checked by the Xposed editorial team