A news helicopter crashed in Los Angeles on Tuesday.

It was covering a collision between an SUV and a city bus.

The crash happened live on air, and the helicopter burst into flames.

Three people died.

NBC4 Los Angeles reported that two people on board were killed.

They were Eliana Moreno and pilot George Marciniw.

Fire officials said a third person, Edy Gutierrez Mejia, died on the ground.

Since 2000, at least eight fatal news helicopter crashes have occurred in the U.S.

They have killed 16 people.

Moreno was widely known as "Eli in the Heli."

She had been an aerial journalist since 2010.

She said the job required shooting video, editing and deep knowledge of the city.

In a 2023 Instagram post, she said she had worked 76 hours since Sunday.

But she called it "the best job in the world."

Marciniw was believed to have more than 30 years of flight experience, according to NBC4.

Aerial news reporting began in Los Angeles.

KTLA-TV debuted the "Telecopter" in 1958.

It was invented by chief engineer John Silva.

In a 2002 interview, Silva said he wanted a way to beat rival stations to stories.

He also wanted to avoid traffic.

The project was kept secret.

The camera equipment was cut from about 2,000 pounds to under 400 pounds.

KTLA first broadcast from the Telecopter on July 24, 1958.

It earned record advertising money.

Silva won two Emmy awards for the invention.

Airborne coverage shaped live TV news.

This included the 1992 Los Angeles riots and the 1994 O.J. Simpson chase.

It has also brought repeated tragedy.

In 1977, a KNBC helicopter ran out of fuel and crashed, killing two people.

In 1986, a New York radio helicopter fell into the Hudson River.

Reporter Jane Dornacker was killed.

In 2007, two Phoenix news helicopters collided during a police chase.

All four people on board were killed.

Journalist Tammy Rose said crews follow strict safety rules.

She said her company wants pilots to stay above 500 feet.