Officer dies in California when helicopter slams into bay, hours after Miami Beach crash

A police helicopter to slam into Newport Bay on Saturday.

One officer was killed, another was critically injured.

Newport Beach police have grounded their helicopters pending an investigation into the crash.

Investigators in California on Sunday were trying to determine what caused a police helicopter to slam into Newport Bay, killing one police officer and critically injuring another.

The crash came hours after another helicopter plummeted into the Atlantic Ocean not far from beachgoers in Miami Beach, injuring two people aboard the chopper.

In California, Huntington Beach Police Chief Eric Parra said the helicopter was responding to reports of a disturbance on the beach Saturday at about 6:30 pm local time. Officer Nicholas Vella, 44, a 14-year department veteran and married father of one daughter, died in the crash, Parra said.

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

The name of the injured officer was not immediately released.

The Federal Aviation Administration, in an email to USA TODAY, said it was investigating the crash along with the National Transportation Safety Board. The FAA identified the helicopter as a McDonnell Douglas 500N. Parra said the department's helicopters undergo regularly scheduled maintenance.

Story from H&R Block

Complicated taxes? H&R Block can help

See More →

"I don't know what occurred, but we are going to pull those in, they won't fly until we do the inspection," he said. "It's a dangerous occupation. Flying is dangerous. Law enforcement is extremely dangerous. You can't account for every issue."

Popular DJ and record producer Justin Martin said he witnessed the crash.

"It was directly above us spinning out of control ... crashed less than 150 feet from our boat ... still shaken up from what we just saw.. crazy," Martin said in a Twitter post.

https://providenceonline.com/stories/how-to-watchfree-nba-all-star-live-stream-time-tv-channel-for-nba-all-star-game-2022,80757

https://providenceonline.com/stories/watch-spider-man-no-way-home-2021-free-movie-streaming-at-home,80771

https://providenceonline.com/stories/nascarstreamsdaytona-500-free-live-watch-daytona-international-speedway-race-2022,80263

https://providenceonline.com/stories/how-to-watchfree-daytona-500-live-stream-time-tv-channel-for-nascar-cup-series-race-2022,80170

https://providenceonline.com/stories/watch-spider-man-no-way-home-2021-free-online-streaming-at-home,80769

https://providenceonline.com/stories/watch-spider-man-no-way-home-2021-movie-free-streaming-at-home,80772

https://providenceonline.com/stories/free-how-to-watch-spider-man-no-way-home-online,80773

https://providenceonline.com/stories/free-how-to-watch-spider-man-no-way-home-online,80775

https://providenceonline.com/stories/free-how-to-watch-spider-man-no-way-home-online,80776

https://providenceonline.com/stories/free-how-to-watch-spider-man-no-way-home-movie,80777

https://providenceonline.com/stories/free-how-to-watch-spider-man-no-way-home-movie-2021,80779

https://providenceonline.com/stories/free-how-to-watch-spider-man-no-way-home-movies-2021,80782

https://providenceonline.com/stories/how-to-watchfree-spider-man-no-way-home-online-2021-googledrive-movies,80783

http://providenceonline.com/stories/free-daytona-500-live-stream-time-tv-channel-for-nascar-cup-series-race-2022,80809

https://providenceonline.com/stories/where-to-watchfree-daytona-500-live-stream-time-tv-channel-for-nascar-cup-series-race-2022,80810

https://providenceonline.com/stories/nascarstreams2022-daytona-500-free-live-watch-daytona-international-speedway-full-race-online,80811

https://providenceonline.com/stories/how-to-watchfree-daytona-500-live-stream-time-channel-where-to-watch-the-daytona-500-race-2022,80812

https://providenceonline.com/stories/free-how-to-watch-the-2022-daytona-500-via-live-stream,80813

https://providenceonline.com/stories/free-daytona-500-live-stream-start-time-tv-channel-now-to-watch-2022-nascar-race,80814

https://providenceonline.com/stories/how-to-watch-free-daytona-500-live-stream-start-time-tv-channel-now-to-watch-2022-nascar-race,80815

https://providenceonline.com/stories/how-to-watchfree-daytona-500-live-stream-start-time-tv-channel-now-to-watch-2022-nascar-race,80817

https://providenceonline.com/stories/where-to-watchfree-daytona-500-live-stream-start-time-tv-channel-now-to-watch-2022-nascar,80818

https://www.spox.com/myspox//blogdetail/tv:2A::2A:daytona-500-free-live-streams,229674.html

https://www.spox.com/myspox//blogdetail/2022-daytona-500-free-live-tv,229675.html

https://www.spox.com/myspox//blogdetail/how-to-watch:2A:daytona-500-live-race,229676.html

https://www.spox.com/myspox//blogdetail/:2A::2A:2022-daytona-500-live-race-free,229677.html

https://www.spox.com/myspox//blogdetail/race:2F:streams:2A:daytona-500-free-live-tv,229678.html

https://heyrhody.com/stories/where-towatch-spider-man-no-way-home-2021-free-movie-streaming-at-home,80894

https://thebaymagazine.com/stories/where-towatch-spider-man-no-way-home-2021-free-movie-streaming-at-home,80892

https://sorhodeisland.com/stories/where-towatch-spider-man-no-way-home-2021-free-movie-streaming-at-home,80890

https://providenceonline.com/stories/where-towatch-spider-man-no-way-home-2021-free-movie-streaming-at-home,80889

https://heyrhody.com/stories/how-towatch-spider-man-no-way-home-2021-free-movie-streaming-at-home,80888

https://thebaymagazine.com/stories/how-towatch-spider-man-no-way-home-2021-free-movie-streaming-at-home,80887

https://sorhodeisland.com/stories/how-towatch-spider-man-no-way-home-2021-free-movie-streaming-at-home,80886

https://providenceonline.com/stories/how-towatch-spider-man-no-way-home-2021-free-movie-streaming-at-home,80885