Officer Nicholas Vella, 44, dead and other officer critically injured after police helicopter has mechanical issue, crashes into ocean near Newort Beach, California
14-year veteran officer killed in police helicopter crash in California
The helicopter crash-landed at about 6:30 p.m. while responding to a disturbance near Newport Beach, according to police.
Nicholas Vella, 44, with the Huntington Beach Police Department, died in the crash, Chief Eric Parra announced during a news conference Saturday night.
Investigators still trying to determine cause of deadly police chopper crash in Newport Beach
The pilot made a brief call to report that the helicopter was experiencing mechanical issues, before calling again to say that they were going to crash, said NTSB spokesperson Elliott Simpson during a Sunday news conference. “Right now, it appears to be a nose-down descent into the water,” Simpson said.
Officer killed, another hurt in police helicopter crash
Authorities say an officer was killed and another officer was critically injured after a Huntington Beach police helicopter crashed in the water near California’s coast.
Police helicopter crashes in water off Newport Beach fatally wounding 1 pilot, injuring another
The crash happened shortly after 6:30 p.m. Two pilots were on board at the time of the crash, and became trapped in the wreckage, according to officials. Both were rescued and taken to the hospital.
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