Connect with us

Los Angeles, Ca

Pilot of Huntington Beach police helicopter tried desperately to keep flying, NTSB says

Published

on

Posted:
Up to date:

A crane is used to carry a Huntington Seashore Police helicopter out of the water in Newport Seashore, Calif., Sunday, Feb. 20, 2022. (Mindy Schauer/The Orange County Register by way of AP)

The pilot of a police helicopter desperately tried to maintain flying earlier than crashing into the ocean off Southern California final month, killing one other officer, investigators mentioned in a preliminary report Wednesday.

Two Huntington Seashore officers have been responding to a report of a bunch combating within the neighboring metropolis of Newport Seashore on the evening of Feb. 19 when the plane crashed in a slim strip of water in Newport Bay between Lido Isle and the Balboa Peninsula. Witnesses mentioned boaters rushed to drag the officers out of the helicopter, which landed the other way up in shallow water.

Advertisement

The pilot was injured and 44-year-old Nicholas Vella, a 14-year Police Division veteran, died within the crash.

A preliminary report issued by the Nationwide Transportation Security Board mentioned the helicopter was orbiting about 500 ft above the scene and the pilot had slowed to maintain a digital camera aimed on it when the plane all of the sudden “yawed aggressively to the suitable,” that means its nostril veered in that course.

The pilot tried to appropriate and cease the rotation however as a substitute the helicopter started to make a spinning descent, the report mentioned.

Based on the report, Vella, who was the tactical flight officer, radioed to police: “We’re having some mechanical points proper now,” after which mentioned: “We’re taking place, we’re taking place.”

Though helicopter blades can preserve spinning from air movement with decreased or with out engine energy — a course of often known as autorotation that’s taught as an emergency maneuver — the pilot informed investigators that he wished to maintain the engine operating as a result of he was over a populated space, the report mentioned.

Advertisement

“As a result of it was darkish, he had no horizon or correct exterior reference, however he might see the lights of homes approaching, and sensed influence was imminent,” the report mentioned.

The pilot decreased airspeed after which the helicopter hit the water on the suitable facet the place Vella was sitting.

“The pilot recalled a sudden smash and noticed water and glass coming towards him as the cover shattered. He felt the rotor blades hitting the water, every thing then stopped, and inside a couple of seconds he was submerged,” the report mentioned.

The pilot used a rescue air bottle to breathe and managed to get out of the helicopter earlier than he was rescued.

The reason for the crash will probably be decided on the finish of the NTSB’s investigation, which might take 12 to 18 months, the company mentioned.

Advertisement
Continue Reading
Advertisement
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Los Angeles, Ca

Man targeted by follow-home robbers who led pursuit across Southern California

Published

on

Man targeted by follow-home robbers who led pursuit across Southern California

Two suspects who led police on a lengthy pursuit through Orange and Los Angeles counties Wednesday are believed to be connected to a follow-home robbery in Rancho Cucamonga.

The male victim, who did not wish to be identified, visited a Chase bank on Tuesday and withdrew around $2,000 in cash from the ATM for a birthday party.

He drove to his parents’ Rancho Cucamonga home and entered the house, leaving the cash inside his car.

That’s when he suddenly heard his car alarm go off. 

Advertisement

“He said, ‘As soon as I sat down [inside the home], I heard the alarm go off,’” the victim’s mother recalled. “He said, ‘My car was broken into! I ran out and saw no one was close to my car.’”

A nearby home doorbell camera captured the suspects’ white SUV speeding away before the victim could catch them.

“In looking at home video surveillance, they were able to piece together what had happened and they spotted a white SUV which happened to be the Audi,” explained Maria Rodriguez a spokesperson from the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department. 

Around 10 a.m. Wednesday morning, Costa Mesa police officers spotted the white Audi SUV with license plates that had been stolen in Riverside. 

The suspects refused to pull over and led officers on a lengthy pursuit. They reached speeds of over 100 miles per hour while dangerously weaving through freeway traffic and surface streets.

Advertisement

Rancho Cucamonga officers noticed the SUV and immediately contacted Costa Mesa police, alerting them the car may be the same vehicle used in the follow-home theft. 

“Sure enough, it was determined that, yes, it was the car we had seen from [Rancho Cucamonga’s] case the day prior,” Rodriguez said.

At one point during the chase, the driver pulled over, stepped out and surrendered to police. However, the passenger suddenly jumped into the driver’s seat and sped off, continuing the chase.

The car was later abandoned in Hawthorne and was located by police. The suspect, however, was nowhere to be found.

The victims said they’re glad one suspect was caught, but are hoping the second suspect is located soon before another person is victimized.

Advertisement

“We were fortunate because no one was hurt,” said the victim’s mother. “But the money was gone and it was not a happy day for all of us.”

Crime technicians are investigating the SUV hoping to find evidence that will lead detectives to the suspect at large.

Anyone with information on the incident can call Rancho Cucamonga police at 909-941-1488.

Advertisement
Continue Reading

Los Angeles, Ca

Another person fatally stabbed in latest Metro violence

Published

on

Another person fatally stabbed in latest Metro violence

A person was fatally stabbed just after getting off a Metro bus in South Los Angeles Tuesday afternoon.

At 2:10 p.m., Los Angeles Police Department officers responded to the Metro station at Slauson Avenue and the 110 Freeway, a spokesperson told KTLA 5 News.

Once the officers arrived, they found that the victim and assailant had exited the bus together before they got into an altercation. The assailant pulled out a blade and stabbed the victim multiple times before fleeing, police said.

That victim was pronounced dead at a local hospital.

Footage shared to the Citizen app shows the aftermath of a fatal stabbing near a Metro bus on June 26, 2024.

The attacker, believed to be a white or Hispanic man about 30 years old, was still at large as of 3 p.m.

Advertisement

In a statement, Metro noted that “violence in the communities we serve spilling over onto our public transit systems continues to be an issue in Greater Los Angeles.”

“Metro extends its condolences to the family and friends of the victim,” the statement added.

This was the latest violent incident in or near Metro stations and vehicles in recent months. Shootings and stabbings have left several people dead, and in response, Metro officials are exploring the possibility of creating their own police force. It would supplant the LAPD, L.A. County Sheriff’s Department and Long Beach Police Department, which are contracted to secure public transit for Metro.

Anyone with information can call Crime Stoppers at 800-222-TIPS (8477).

Nancy Fontan contributed to this report.

Advertisement
Continue Reading

Los Angeles, Ca

Hollywood crew members reach tentative deal with major studios 

Published

on

Hollywood crew members reach tentative deal with major studios 

The International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE) has reached a tentative agreement with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP), averting another Hollywood strike. 

Both sides had been bargaining for more than three months.

While a complete summary of the agreement is expected in the coming days, some of the proposed changes included in the agreement are scale rate increases of seven, four and 3.5% over three years, IATSE officials said in a release. Hourly workers are set to receive triple pay when any workday exceeds 15 elapsed hours, and all on call employees will now receive double time on the 7th day of the workweek. 

“The tentative deal includes new protections around artificial intelligence, including language that ensures no employee is required to provide AI prompts in any manner that would result in the displacement of any covered employee,” the release read. “These changes in the basic agreement are in addition to the tentative agreements reached in the local agreement negotiations.” 

A sign in front of an office building for The International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees is pictured, Monday, Oct. 4, 2021, in Burbank, Calif. .(AP)

The tentative deal includes additional funding for the Motion Picture Industry Pension and Health Plans that will address the $670 million funding gap, IATSE said, including new streaming residuals. In addition, officials confirmed that no participant will incur a break in service for their 2023 plan year. 

Advertisement

Now that a provisional agreement has been reached, it must be ratified by the unions’ membership. Members and signatories are set to review a detailed summary within days, and a Memorandum of Agreement is expected in two weeks. 

The IATSE labor union represents over 170,000 technicians, artisans and craftspeople in the entertainment industry, including live events, movie and television productions, broadcast productions and trade shows in the United States and Canada. 

Continue Reading

Trending