Nicholas Vella ID'd as Officer Killed in Newport Beach Plane Crash near West Balboa Boulevard and 18th Street
Newport Beach, California (February 20, 2022) – The officer who died in a plane crash that happened in Newport Beach on Saturday night has been identified as Officer Nicholas J. Vella, 44, according to the Huntington Police Department.
The incident occurred near West Balboa Boulevard and 18th Street on Saturday, February 19.
A police department helicopter was responding to a fight in Newport Beach at around 6 p.m. when it crash-landed into shallow waters.
Nicholas Vella Killed in Newport Beach Plane Crash
Two officers onboard the plane were extricated and rushed to trauma centers, where Officer Vella was pronounced deceased.
The other officer was hospitalized with critical injuries but was in stable condition.
The cause of the crash is under investigation by the National Transportation Safety Board.