Wed, Jun 12, 2024
More Stupid Aero-Trix: Lamborghini Doing Donuts In A Dry Lake Bed Was The Target
Suk Min Choi, known to his million-plus YouTube subscribers as Alex Choi, has been arrested and faces federal charges for “causing the placement of an explosive or incendiary device on an aircraft.”
The charges result from Choi’s allegedly being the mastermind behind a scheme to create a video showing a Lamborghini speeding and doing donuts on a dry lake bed as passengers in a low-flying helicopter shoot fireworks aimed at the car. The video is titled “Destroying a Lamborghini with Fireworks” and was captured in June 2023.
Choi is known for his “greatest car shenanigans” videos and though this one, filmed on 360-degree action cameras, shows dramatic interplay between the car and helicopter as fireworks streak down toward the car, it is blurry and often does not capture the helicopter and car together. Artistic and planning shortcomings aside, the legal issues are multiple and in addition to the federal complaint Choi could also be charged in California since fireworks are subject to stringent laws in that state. The lack of permits or waivers required for aerial filming or explosives from BLM, ATF, and FAA are of prime concern to those agencies and could result in additional enforcement action against Choi.
The helicopter pilot has already had his certificate revoked for low altitude flying, firing or allowing the firing of fireworks from the aircraft, and having his transponder turned off for several hours while filming.
The federal complaint was filed by the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Office of the Inspector General, as analysis of tire tracks indicates the filming took place on federally owned areas of El Mirage Dry Lakebed in southern California. The video has since been removed from YouTube but fragments of it can still be found across the internet. Some in the gaming and “stunt video” world have voiced amazement and admiration of the video’s idea and content, albeit emphasizing a desire to see such a video redone with all the proper permits, planning, and cinematography in place.
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