Get all your news in one place.
100's of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
The Guardian - US
The Guardian - US
World
Cecilia Nowell

A deadly crash and the perilous history of LA’s news helicopters: ‘The eye in the sky’

A person adjusts flowers at a memorial near a fence
A person adjusts flowers at a memorial for Eliana Moreno and George Marciniw on 16 September 2026 at the site where their helicopter used to park at Whiteman airport in Los Angeles. The journalists died in a helicopter crash the day prior. Photograph: Ethan Swope/AP

The whir of news helicopters flying overhead has long been a familiar soundtrack to life in Los Angeles – and the footage they gather of high-speed chases, wildfires and celebrity sightings a fixture of local television.

For nearly 70 years, Angelenos have gotten their news from “the eye in the sky” – from scenes of OJ Simpson’s fleeing white Bronco, the 1992 LA riots and even Madonna’s wedding to Sean Penn.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100's of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.