Chopper Shooting Fireworks At Lamborghini Leads To YouTuber's Arrest

LOS ANGELES, CA — A San Fernando Valley YouTuber who specializes in “car shenanigans” faces federal charges after authorities said he directed a video in which two people in a helicopter blasted fireworks at a speeding Lamborghini from above.

Federal prosecutors announced the case against Suk Min Choi, 24, known as "Alex Choi," of Studio City, Thursday. Choi is charged with one count of causing the placement of an explosive or incendiary device on an aircraft, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office.

Choi was arrested Wednesday and faces up to 10 years in prison if convicted.

At his initial appearance Thursday afternoon in Los Angeles federal court, Choi was granted release on a $50,000 bond. His arraignment was scheduled for July 2.

Choi did not immediately return emailed nor Instagram messages requesting comment. Nor did his talent agency.

Prosecutors allege that Choi posted a video last July, made without filming permits, entitled “Destroying a Lamborghini with Fireworks.” The video has since been taken down but authorities said it shows Choi pressing a “fire missiles” button while two women on board a helicopter shoot fireworks at the sports car as it races across federal land in the El Mirage Dry Lakebed in San Bernardino County.

Another video of the event still on YouTube appears to show someone in the Lambo fringe fireworks back up into the air as the helicopter rains pyrotechnics upon the car.

After shooting what appears to be a live-action version of a scene from a fictional video game, the clip transitions to a behind-the-scenes look at how Choi shot the first third of the stunt. During this portion of the video, Choi allegedly makes various references to himself coordinating the shoot.

In the video, Choi thanks a camera company for "being a part of my crazy stupid ideas." He also allegedly said in the video that the group that helped make the video messed up at one point "because I forgot to tell my friend how to use a torch," according to papers filed in Los Angeles federal court.

Finally, as noted in the affidavit, during the video it appears Choi made the decision to end the shoot when someone asked if they would film again, stating, "No, that's it. We're out of fireworks, right?"

In other parts of the video, Choi is seen next to the helicopter, holding what appears to be a firework, according to the affidavit.

Law enforcement believes that Choi committed the offense sometime in June 2023, that he did not have a permit to film a shoot using fireworks on a helicopter, and that he purchased the fireworks in Nevada because they were illegal in California, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office.

A 23-page indictment painstakingly details the investigation. According to prosecutors, Choi skipped an extensive permitting process with the FAA that would have required safety measures and plans for the dangerous stunt.

Choi, who has over a million followers on Instagram and nearly that number of subscribers on YouTube, entertains his audience with what he calls “the greatest car shenanigans.” Other stunts of his include filming his passengers as he rapidly accelerates and taking a Lamborghini through a gas station car wash.

City News Service, The Associated Press and Patch Staffer Paige Austin contributed to this report.