A YouTuber named Alex Choi is facing charges after a controversial stunt involving the shooting of fireworks from a helicopter at a Lamborghini.
YouTuber faces 10 years in prison after shooting fireworks from helicopter at a Lamborghini
The incident, which occurred in San Bernardino County, California, has garnered significant attention due to its dangerous nature.
In the now-removed video titled 'Destroying a Lamborghini with Fireworks', Choi orchestrated a spectacle where two women in a helicopter fired fireworks at a Lamborghini sports car.
The reckless act took place near the ground, and the footage captured the repeated shots aimed at the luxury vehicle.
Law enforcement authorities took notice of the video and subsequently filed charges against Choi.
He is facing charges for placing an explosive or flammable device on an aircraft. Unfortunately, this offense carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in federal prison if convicted.
An affidavit filed last year detailed the events of the video.
Choi allegedly pressed a "fire missiles" button while the two women were in the helicopter, shooting fireworks at the speeding Lamborghini.
The video also included behind-the-scenes footage showing Choi's involvement in coordinating the shoot.
During the video, Choi expressed gratitude to a camera company for supporting his "crazy stupid ideas."
He was also heard mentioning a mishap where a friend mishandled a torch, leading to complications during the filming.
Authorities believe the video was filmed on the El Mirage Dry Lakebed, and they suspect that the fireworks were obtained in Nevada since they are illegal in California.
Moreover, the stunt was carried out without obtaining the necessary permits, which worsened the legal consequences for Choi.
The consequences of this reckless act extend beyond Choi alone.
The helicopter pilot involved in the stunt had their pilot license revoked by the Federal Aviation Administration in January.
The United States Department of Transportation Office of Inspector General and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives are also investigating the incident.
Choi is scheduled to face his arraignment in the coming weeks, and it remains unclear whether he has legal representation.
This is not the first time a YouTuber has faced jail time for their reckless performance.
In November 2021, a YouTuber named Jacob, who is 29 years old, staged a plane crash in Southern California and subsequently got lost in a forest.
However, he luckily stumbled upon a rescue vehicle by the end of the day. It was later revealed that the entire incident was planned.
The entire scene of the plane wreckage and Jacob parachuting out was recorded using a selfie stick. Cameras were also strategically placed throughout the aircraft to capture various angles.
Jacob documented and continuously updated his supposed ordeal of being lost in the forest and searching for drinking water. The video concluded with Jacob drinking water from a stream and joyfully finding his way back home.
Following the incident, the National Transportation Safety Board and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) initiated an investigation.
Jacob was required to retrieve the wreckage of the plane several weeks later.
However, in April 2022, the FAA revoked Jacob's pilot's license after discovering that he and a friend had used a helicopter to recover the plane wreckage and also collected footage from the cameras.
Initially, Jacob claimed to have no knowledge of where the plane crashed, but it was later revealed that he had been lying. Furthermore, Jacob admitted to lying to investigators and staging the video for monetary gain.
According to an announcement from the U.S. Department of Justice, Jacob has been charged with destruction, concealment, and obstruction of a federal investigation.
This charge carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, and Jacob has agreed to plead guilty.
