F1 News: Footage Surfaces Of Helicopter Struck By Fireworks At United States GP
Footage has surfaced on social media from the Circuit of the Americas showing the close proximity a camera helicopter got to fireworks during the United States Grand Prix. Had the pilot not responded quickly, disaster could have struck at the F1 venue.
F1 weekends come with their share of glitz, glamour, and celebrations. However, a rather bumpy race at COTA would've evolved into something more due the presence of the camera helicopter while launching celebratory fireworks into the air.
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After the first two or three shots were fired, the pilot realized that he was under the line of fire and immediately veered to the left to avoid being hit by the fireworks that followed with speed and intensity.
Engineer and F1 enthusiast Bryson Sullivan uploaded the post and pointed out how F1 nearly missed a major accident at COTA. Demanding an investigation, he wrote:
"F1 narrowly avoided an unspeakable disaster at @COTA last weekend when the camera helicopter was (audibly) struck by fireworks as it hovered over the track. A full investigation is necessary and corrective actions MUST be taken.
"We need to take this incident incredibly seriously, and the findings of this investigation should be communicated to the public as quickly as possible."
When another user replied saying how it is coming to the knowledge of the people after a week, the user replied by stating:
"I'm sharing it precisely because more people need to hear about it and the matter needs to be handled by @F1 and @COTA with the utmost urgency."
Here's another perspective of the incident where someone can be heard saying "Oh they're shooting at the helicopter!"
What makes the matter more serious is that the uploader claims the fireworks did indeed hit the helicopter, with even a metal clink being heard in the video. However, I'm unsure if the clink sound emanated from the rotors.
However, another user who was at Turn 1 confirmed that the fireworks did hit the helicopter. He wrote:
"I was just very close; I was at turn1, and I did hear the blows of the fireworks to the helicopter. All the people who were there were in shock."
It has been a day since the video was uploaded on social media platform X. But, there has been no official word from the authorities on the matter, just yet. The question is, will there be an investigation into the incident that potentially put many lives at risk?
