California Helicopter Crash: 1 Dead, Another Injured After Tragedy in Newport Beach

The City of Huntington Beach in California on Sunday mourned the death of a police officer after their helicopter plunged into Newport Beach on Saturday night.

According to ABC 7, the police officer who died in the tragedy was identified as Nicholas Vella, a 14-year veteran from the Huntington Beach Police Department.

CBS News noted that the first responders on the scene led a procession with Vella's casket draped in an American flag.

The procession led by the responders came a day after Chief Eric Parra announced Vella's death during a press conference.

"The city of Huntington Beach, the residents of Huntington Beach, the Huntington Beach Police Department, and the law enforcement community have lost an officer who was truly dedicated to his job and was doing what he loved doing," Parra said.

On Sunday, California Governor Gavin Newsom issued a statement following Vella's death, saying that the officer's "bravery and commitment to protecting his community will not be forgotten," per Fox 11.

ABC 7 noted that another officer was with Vella during the helicopter crash. The said officer was reportedly taken to a hospital in critical condition, but he was released from the hospital Sunday.

California Helicopter Crash

Vella's death and the injury of the other officer who survived the tragedy came after the helicopter they were riding crash-landed around 6:30 p.m. on Saturday.

Reports noted that the officers responded to a call from Newport Beach as a fight reportedly erupted near 18th Street and Balboa Boulevard.

Elliot Simpson, from the National Transportation Safety Board, said that the pilot of the helicopter reported that they encountered "mechanical difficulties." A few seconds later, Simpson added that the pilot transmitted that they were going down.

It was unclear who was operating the helicopter during the crash.

According to CBS, a home security video captured the police helicopter spun out of control and then hit the water, almost instantly sinking in Newport Beach.

Reports added that two blades of the helicopter came off during the crash.

Witnesses to the California helicopter crash recalled what they saw as the tragedy unfolded.

"All of a sudden, I hear something sputtering really close, and it didn't sound like a normal helicopter... Somehow he [a helicopter passenger] managed to get it into the bay to save everybody's life. If he had landed on a house, there would be a lot of casualties. I feel very fortunate," the woman told Eyewitness News via ABC 7.

Investigations on California Helicopter Crash Underway

As the helicopter crashed on Newport Beach on Saturday, dive teams were reportedly in the water all day to search for clues that will lead to what caused the sudden crash.

Rescue on the site began minutes after the tragedy as locals, firefighters, and lifeguards worked to rescue the two California officers trapped underwater.

Chief Parra said that the National Transportation Safety Board, as well as the Orange County Sheriff's Major Accident Investigation Team, are leading the probe on the crash.

The Huntington Beach Police Department described the helicopter that crashed as an air support unit.

As of Sunday afternoon, the helicopter was pulled from the California waters.

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written By: Joshua Summers

WATCH: Huntington Beach Police Helicopter Involved in Fatal Crash Pulled From Ocean - From FOX 11 Los Angeles