A Huntington Beach police helicopter crash landed Saturday evening at Newport Beach Harbor, killing one pilot.
Huntington Beach Police Department Chief Eric Parra announced the pilot’s death, and added that the other pilot on board is hospitalized in critical condition, “but doing OK.”
At a 10 p.m. news conference, an emotional Parra identified the dead man as Nicholas Vella, 44, a 14-year veteran of the department who was “truly dedicated to his job (and) loved what he was doing.”
Parra didn’t name the the other pilot, but described the person as a 16-year veteran of the department.
The crash occurred at 6:34 p.m., a Newport Beach Fire Department dispatcher confirmed to City News Service. The copter had been en route to a call about a fight.
Huntington Beach police posted a tweet at 7:20 p.m., noting that, “our police helicopter, HB1, crash landed in the Newport Beach area. Rescue efforts are underway …”
NBC4 reported Newport Beach firefighters were working to rescue someone trapped inside. The station also showed a picture of the helicopter wreckage in water at the shoreline.
CBS2/KCAL9 showed video of swimmers and police officers rescuing two people from the wreckage who were taken from the scene by ambulance. The video indicated the location was near Fremont Street and Beach Drive, between the Balboa Peninsula and Lido Isle.
The department’s website describes the helicopter: “We operate three MD 520N series turbine-powered helicopters out of our facility. The Air Support Unit currently provides support under contract for the city of Newport Beach and the city of Costa Mesa.”
Parra said the remaining department aircraft will not be flown until they are inspected. The aircraft have a regular maintenance schedule.
The National Transportation Safety Board and the Orange County sheriff’s Major Accident Investigation Team will investigate, he added.
– City News Service