Police helicopter crashes into ocean, killing California officer, authorities say

A police helicopter crashed into the Pacific Ocean off Newport Beach in California, killing one officer and injuring a second, authorities said.

The Huntington Beach Police Department helicopter went down while responding to a call at 6:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 19, police said at a news briefing.

“You could tell that it was in trouble and it looked like it was losing control, looked like it was spiraling a bit,” onlooker Joseph Thore told KTLA.

Officer Nicholas Vella, 44, a 14-year veteran of the police force, died in the crash, Huntington Beach police wrote on Facebook. He leaves a wife and daughter.

A second officer on the helicopter, a 16-year veteran, is listed in critical condition, Huntington Beach Police Chief Eric Parra said at the news briefing.

“This is a difficult night for all of us, and I would ask for your prayers and your support as we support our officer’s family and as we continue to grieve through this,” Parra said.

The National Transportation Safety Board and the Orange County Sheriff’s Department are investigating the crash, he said. The cause of the crash is not yet known.

“I looked outside, saw it going in circles and saw it take off the southwest, and then I heard it fall and crash,” onlooker Alex Burchinal told The Orange County Register.

Other onlookers at a nearby restaurant screamed as the helicopter went down into the water, witnesses told the publication.

“This is truly a really heartbreaking time for all of us here in Huntington Beach,” said Mayor Barbara Delgleize, the Los Angeles Times reported.

A helicopter crashed into the surf near South Beach in Miami Beach on Saturday afternoon, injuring the two people aboard, the Miami Herald reported.

This story was originally published February 20, 2022 at 10:05 AM with the headline "Police helicopter crashes into ocean, killing California officer, authorities say."