Journalist Eliana Moreno and pilot George Marciniw among three killed in Los Angeles news helicopter crash

Photojournalist Eliana Moreno and pilot George Marciniw have been named as being among three people killed after an NBC Los Angeles helicopter crashed in the city's suburbs, the station has confirmed.

Fire officials said an unidentified pedestrian was also killed, and two others were taken to hospital.

"That helicopter community is a small group of people, and it's just devastating to know that this has happened to one of those people, to our friends and our colleagues at NBC4," said Mike Rogers, CBS Los Angeles assignment editor.

"My heart is with the families and loved ones of those we lost in the tragic bus collision and helicopter crash," she wrote on X, while the Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD) similarly extended its "thoughts and prayers" to all those affected.

The news helicopter was in the area to report on a bus crash in which two people were killed and six others were injured

The aircraft went down just before 19:00 local time (01:00 BST) between two commercial buildings in the Chatsworth neighbourhood, an LAFD spokesperson told the BBC.

During emotional live coverage on NBC4, veteran news anchor Colleen Williams confirmed it was the local news station's helicopter that crashed.

Earlier, LAFD Captain Branden Silverman told the local affiliate of the BBC's US partner CBS that the third victim in the crash appeared to have been on the ground.

Several news helicopters were in the area at the time of the incident reporting on a bus crash.

The helicopter crashed while covering a traffic collision involving an SUV and a city bus in Chatsworth

California Governor Gavin Newsom wrote on X that "our hearts are with the victims and families of tonight's devastating Metro bus and helicopter crashes in Chatsworth, and with the entire NBC4 family".

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) will lead the investigation into the incident.