Episode 5: Chris Cristi

Chris Cristi is the evening AIR helicopter reporter for ABC7 Eyewitness News.

Since moving to Los Angeles in 2014, Chris has enjoyed a bird’s eye view of Southern California while reporting over breaking news. In addition to weather and traffic, his coverage has included police chases, wildfires and the 2015 terrorist attack in San Bernardino. 

In 2016, Chris received a Radio and Television News Association Award for his live coverage reporting over the Cajon Pass brush fire, which consumed an entire stretch of freeway traffic.

Born and raised in Florida, Chris graduated from the University of Central Florida and worked for NASA at the Kennedy Space Center. Following his work during the tragic Space Shuttle Columbia disaster in 2003, Chris went on to launch his helicopter reporting career at FOX in Orlando and later, at WSVN in Miami. In 2005, as Hurricane Rita ravaged the Texas coastline, Chris flew on special assignment for CBS News and chronicled the hurricane as an airborne photojournalist.

In the years since, Chris has traveled around the world interviewing newsmakers and celebrities for various entertainment outlets. 

Prior to living in L.A., Chris spent several years reporting for FOX 5 in New York City where he covered historic moments such as the 2005 MTA subway strike and the US Airways flight 1549 “Miracle on the Hudson.”

Chris is married and has an 18-month-old daughter.  He likes to read Disney books with his daughter.

Transcript for this Episode