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Tuesday, March 19, 2024

Wrightsville Beach to file criminal misdemeanor charges in August helicopter stunt

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The Wrightsville Beach Police Department will file criminal charges against the pilot and marketer behind a helicopter publicity stunt at a student beach party in August that provoked an online backlash for littering and creating danger.

Police Chief Dan House said that both Jessica Ward, the pilot and owner of High Tide Helicopters of Oak Island, and George Taylor, III, chief executive officer of Wilmington-based startup Likeli, will be charged with “dangerous flying,” a state statute that assigns misdemeanor penalties for a range of aerial activities that can be considered dangerous. House said a conviction on the charges would likely result in a sentence requiring public service.  Charges haven’t yet been filed, he said.

During the Aug. 16 incident, the helicopter flew over students attending the University of North Carolina Wilmington’s Beach Blast party on Wrightsville Beach and dropped promotional flyers attached to dollar bills stamped with a promotion. The event was not scheduled with school or town officials and many people were angry that most of the flyers went into the ocean.

“Without question, it was a 100 percent irresponsible,” House said. “They were over a populated area, they could have lost power, there was the pier nearby, plenty of builds around. Anything could have happened.”

Afterwards, town officials said they were considering citations for littering or for the violating the town’s ordinance requiring aerial vehicles to maintain a 500 feet altitude.

“It’s something we can’t condone or allow,” town manager Tim Owens said in August. “In a family-friendly beach environment, there could be danger. We can’t allow that kind of activity, whether it be a special event or otherwise, without going through an approval process.”

House said the department consulted with both the town attorney and the office of the district attorney before filing the charges. Additionally, House said that the Federal Aviation Administration has also opened an investigation of the incident.

The state law specifically mentions pilots who fly too low over “thickly inhabited area or over a public gathering” and passengers who “drop any object except loose water or loose sand ballast.”

After the stunt, Taylor publicly apologized and  organized a beach cleanup. Taylor did not immediately return a phone call for comment. Ward said she wouldn’t comment before being formally charged.

Photo courtesy of Caleb Kuhne.

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