Federal investigators brought the wreckage of a news helicopter that crashed in Los Angeles to Phoenix where investigators plan to examine it further.
The wreckage is in Phoenix, because the company handling the aircraft recovery is located here, National Transportation Safety Board spokesperson Peter Knudson told The Arizona Republic on Sept. 21.
The investigator leading the case will also travel to Phoenix, he said.
The helicopter crashed Sept. 15 in the Los Angeles neighborhood of Chatsworth while covering a deadly bus crash, according to local authorities.
The crash killed reporter Eliana Moreno, pilot George Marciniwand Edy Gutierrez Mejia, who was on the ground, federal investigators said.
Why is aircraft wreckage brought to Phoenix?
NTSB records show investigators have repeatedly examined
aircraft wreckage in Phoenix after crashes across Arizona and other Western states.
After a May 2024 plane crash in Peoria, investigators examined the wreckage at Air Transport in Phoenix, NTSB said. Records also show wreckage from crashes near San Bernardino and Halloran Springs, California, was brought to Phoenix in 2024 for further examination.
The NTSB does not list a regional aviation office in Arizona.
Arizona is part of the agency’s Western Pacific Region, based in Federal Way, Washington, though NTSB records have identified some investigators as based in Phoenix.
What do we know about the helicopter crash investigation?
The NTSB was leading the investigation with the Federal Aviation Administration.
NTSB Investigator-in-Charge Fabian Salazar previously said the helicopter was substantially damaged and that fire damaged portions of the wreckage.
Investigators were reviewing video and audio recorded aboard the helicopter before it crashed. Salazar called the recording some of the most important evidence investigators had recovered.
He said investigators could hear sounds consistent with the helicopter’s engine changing speed, along with tones that were likely warnings or advisories to the pilot.
The NTSB was also reviewing security camera footage from nearby businesses and video submitted by the public, Salazar said.
Investigators had not identified a data recorder aboard the helicopter, but Salazar said they continued searching the wreckage and working with the aircraft’s owner as they gathered evidence.
The agency expected to release a preliminary report about 30 days after the crash. A final report identifying the probable cause could take up to 18 months, Salazar said.
USA TODAY reporter Jeanine Santucci contributed to this article.
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Rey Covarrubias Jr. is a reporter for The Arizona Republic and azcentral.com. Email him at: rcovarrubias@azcentral.com, and connect with him on Instagram, Threads, Bluesky and X (formerly Twitter) at @ReyCJrAZ.
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: LA news helicopter wreckage brought to Phoenix for investigation
