The Federal Aviation Administration says the pilot of a Robinson R22 chopper reports that a passenger jumped from the aircraft about a mile south of the Malibu pier shortly after 1 p.m. Saturday.
CBS2 News found the helicopter was chartered out of Star Helicopters at Hawthorne Municipal Airport.
The doors of the helicopter had been taken off for a photo shoot.
The pilot told investigators the man jumped out of the rotorcraft 45 minutes into the flight.
The lead detective in the case told CBS2 the pilot tilted the helicopter and tried to grab the 42-year-old man to prevent him from jumping, but that he had to eventually stabilize the aircraft.
Malibu Council Member Jefferson Wagner was on the nearby pier when the incident happened.
“That’s what alerted my attention, when I saw it circling, going over the area a few times,” Wagner told CBS2 News.
The Los Angeles County Fire Department says the man’s heart wasn’t beating when lifeguards rescued him. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
The man’s name hasn’t been released. There’s no word on why he jumped or how far he fell.
Story and video: http://losangeles.cbslocal.com
The incident happened around 1:20 p.m. near the 23000 block of Pacific Coast Highway.
The Federal Aviation Administration said the pilot of a Robinson R22 chopper reported that a passenger jumped from the aircraft about a mile from the Malibu pier.
A lifeguard who has been on the job for decades said he paddled out to rescue the man, but the victim did not have a pulse. The man was taken to the pier, where he was pronounced dead by paramedics, officials said.
Malibu Councilman Jefferson Wagner said he spoke with investigators who also told him that the man had leapt out of the chopper.
Wagner said the helicopter was leased from Hawthorne Airport and the pilot then landed in Santa Monica to report what had happened.
Surfers and beachgoers noticed a helicopter that had been circling and hovering for several minutes, making them realized that wasn't typical behavior.
"Right as we got out, there was a lifeguard truck that was zooming right to the top at third point and then they deployed the surfboards and were able to paddle out to this person," witness Chris Finck said.
Anyone with more information was urged to call the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department homicide bureau at (323) 890-5500. Those wishing to remain anonymous may contact Crime Stoppers at (800) 222-8477.
Story and video: http://abc7.com
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