- A content creator is facing up to a decade in prison over a stunt involving fireworks aboard a helicopter.
- The federal government charged him with one count of “causing the placement of an explosive or incendiary device on an aircraft.”
- The costly investigation into Choi’s viral stunt raises some questions about the balance and necessity of extensive federal resources for a single incident.
The feds got him, everybody. Suk Min Choi, better known as YouTuber Alex Choi, is in custody, so everyone can settle down. Oh, you don’t know who that is? Neither did I, until today’s news broke. Federal authorities have charged Alex Choi (whose real name is Suk Min Choi) with one count of “causing the placement of an explosive or incendiary device on an aircraft.”
This alleged crime is connected to a viral stunt that involved a helicopter, a Lamborghini Huracan, and a slew of fireworks. Here’s a breakdown of what might just be a rather frivolous use of public funds.
The video in question is one that Choi called “Destroying a Lamborghini with Fireworks”, went live on July 4, 2023. It features two women firing Roman candle fireworks at a Lamborghini Huracan from a helicopter that is actively in flight. Video shows that the aircraft, the Lamborghini, and the camera vehicle are in a remote area now confirmed to be a dry lake bed.
Read: Bay Area YouTuber Jailed After Posting High-Speed BMW Stunts Online
Authorities are charging Choi with the crime partly because, in the video, he frequently refers to himself as the director. He also thanks the camera company for “being a part of my crazy stupid ideas.” The federal complaint highlights that he did not have a permit for the activity, and it specifically notes that he purchased the fireworks in Nevada, where they are legal, because they are illegal in California, where the filming took place.
Interestingly, the charges are solely related to the use of the aircraft to place an explosive device, and not to the use of fireworks or any other activities shown in the video, or occurring before or after it. That’s right, both the DOT Inspector General and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives are investigating this incident, focusing exclusively on the single charge mentioned above.
In fact, the feds dug up a lot of dirt about this entire situation. NBC News reports that it has radar data showing when the helicopter took off and how it went to El Mirage Lake, a dry lake, for the shoot itself. Federal authorities also have several text conversations involving Choi where he talks about the idea.
“Choi wrote his idea was to make a short, one minute video of an ‘attack helicopter shooting missiles (mortar style fireworks) at the car, while the car is trying to run away and dodge the missiles using flares (roman candle fireworks attached to the back of the car,'” it says. The pilot involved reportedly lost his license in January over the video.
Two drone operators mentioned in the report seem to only make things worse. One said that they “tried to stay away and behind the helicopter” while the other spoke about a “safety talk that he described as spontaneous where Choi did the talking.” According to authorities, Choi could face up to 10 years in federal prison if convicted.
That seems pretty stiff and in fact, this whole investigation seems a bit wild considering the resulting video and charges. It’s unclear exactly how much the government has spent on this investigation but no doubt it’s significant.
Based on the evidence it’s presented so far, the damage done doesn’t seem so apparent. It’s far from the clear risk presented when another YouTuber intentionally crashed his airplane on federal land. Are we missing something here or are the feds a little too charge-happy after a stunt that evidently went off without issue or injury?
@supercars716 PART 3 | Destroying a Lamborghini With Fireworks #destroying #lamborghini #fireworks #fyp #viralvideo ♬ Aesthetic – Gaspar