A popular YouTuber faces federal charges for a filmed stunt in which two women shot fireworks from a helicopter at a Lamborghini.
Suk Min Choi, better known as Alex Choi, faces ten years in federal prison as a result, after filming the “crazy and stupid” stunt for his nearly one million subscribers to see.
The final product was a high-budget showcase, like something out of a Michael Bay movie, set to Miley Cyrus’ ‘Party in the USA.’
The 24-year-old was seen handcuffed in California on Wednesday, US prosecutors said, adding that the FAA also revoked the helicopter’s pilot’s license for flying at altitudes required by law and for failing to display the helicopter’s ‘N’ number. helicopter.
He also created a danger to persons or property by “operating the helicopter in a careless or reckless manner that endangered the life or property of another person,” the complaint states.
Choi filmed the stunt last year to celebrate the Fourth of July, in the Mojave Desert. He appeared in Los Angeles Superior Court on Thursday but has not yet been arraigned.
Suk Min Choi, better known as Alex Choi, faces federal charges for a filmed stunt in which two women shot fireworks from a helicopter at a Lamborghini.
The Michael Bay-esque scene was filmed above El Mirage Lake in the Mojave Desert in what the feds believe was June, to celebrate the Fourth of July.
‘Suk Min Choi, 24, aka “Alex Choi,” of Studio City, is charged with one count of causing the placement of an explosive or incendiary device on an airplane,’ a statement from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California said. .
‘He was arrested on Wednesday and is expected to appear in the coming weeks.
‘According to an affidavit filed with the complaint, on July 4, 2023, Choi posted a video titled “Destroying a Lamborghini with Fireworks” to his YouTube channel.
‘In the video, Choi allegedly presses a “fire missile” button while two women are in a helicopter, shooting fireworks at a speeding Lamborghini sports car.
“Authorities believe the video was filmed on the dry El Mirage lake bed in San Bernardino County.”
The statement goes on to describe how investigators discerned that Choi was the one who filmed the footage, which was posted on YouTube but recently deleted.
After the dangerous light show, the video cuts to a behind-the-scenes look at how Choi filmed the first third of the clip, during which the YouTuber allegedly made several references to himself coordinating the shoot.
Specifically, the video claims Choi directed it, the feds said, before pointing to a clip where Choi thanks a camera company for “being a part of my crazy, stupid ideas.”
The FAA revoked the helicopter’s pilot’s license for flying at altitudes required by law and for failing to display the helicopter’s ‘N’ number, the feds said. In the photo, one of the women participating in the trick.
The final product was a high-budget showcase, like something out of a Michael Bay movie, set to Miley Cyrus’ ‘Party in the USA.’
The 11-minute video, which remained visible for months, has been removed from Choi’s YouTube page.
Titled ‘Destroying a Lamborghini with Fireworks’, it shows the helicopter flying close to the ground without filming permits, while two women fire explosives at the $300,000 sports car.
The feds expressed their belief that Choi committed the crime sometime in June 2023, during which he “did not have permission to film a helicopter fireworks shoot.”
They also wrote that he purchased the fireworks in Nevada before bringing them across state lines because they were illegal in California.
During this part of the video, Choi, known for his car-related stunts online, also allegedly said that he “messed up at one point during the production process” because he forgot to tell my friend how to use a torch. .’
Finally, the statement, along with an attached affidavit, mentions how during the video, Choi appears to make the decision to end filming.
‘(W)hen someone asked if they would film again, (Choi said), “No, that’s it. “We’re out of fireworks, right?” the feds wrote.
Elsewhere in the video, Choi is seen standing next to the helicopter, holding what appears to be a firework.
The feds added their belief that Choi committed the crime sometime in June 2023, during which he “did not have permission to film a fireworks shoot in a helicopter.”
They also wrote that he purchased the fireworks in Nevada before bringing them across state lines because they were illegal in California.
The 11-minute video, which remained visible for months, has been removed from Choi’s YouTube page.
Titled ‘Destroying a Lamborghini with Fireworks’, it shows the helicopter flying close to the ground without filming permits, while two women fire explosives at the $300,000 sports car.
He is charged with “causing the placing of an explosive or incendiary device on an aircraft,” and his arraignment will occur in the coming weeks. No date provided
If convicted, Choi, who promises viewers on his YouTube channel ‘the greatest automotive shenanigans!’ – could face up to 10 years in federal prison.
He accused him of “causing the placement of an explosive or incendiary device on an aircraft.”
The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Office of Inspector General and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives are investigating this matter.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Dominique Caamaño of the Environmental Crimes and Consumer Protection Section is handling this case.
Choi was scheduled to make his initial appearance in a Los Angeles court on Thursday, with his arraignment to occur in the coming weeks.