YouTuber Suk Min Choi, commonly known as Alex Choi, was taken into custody after uploading a video where he and his crew allegedly shot fireworks at a car from a helicopter. The now-deleted video, titled “Destroying a Lamborghini with Fireworks” showed fireworks being shot at a Lamborghini from a helicopter.
Legal troubles and charges
The U.S. Department of Justice filed charges against Choi on Thursday for possessing an explosive device on an aircraft. This is an offense that carries a maximum 10-year prison sentence.
In December 2023, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) began looking into the footage and discovered that Choi had shot the stunt footage near California’s El Mirage Dry Lakebed in San Bernardino County.
No permits obtained
The affidavit states that Suk Min Choi lacked the required permits to record the footage, which the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Bureau of Land Management had to grant him approval for. Additionally, Choi did not have FAA approval for helicopter operations. Rather, he purchased fireworks in Nevada because they were prohibited in California.
Details of the video
In the footage, two women can be seen launching fireworks from a helicopter while Choi is seen operating the Lamborghini. Choi even activated a button marked “fire missiles,” causing fireworks to shoot in the direction of the vehicle. Behind-the-scenes footage from the video also demonstrated how the stunt was organized and carried out.
Serious consequences of content
Fortunately, nobody was harmed in the act. Still, the authorities treated the situation quite seriously. According to US Attorney’s office spokesperson Ciaran McEvoy, no injuries were recorded. Suk Min Choi will appear in court on July 2nd after being freed on a $50,000 bond. If found guilty, he may spend up to ten years in federal prison.