In this is week’s episode of The Hangar Z Podcast, Jon Gray and Jeff Ratkovich sit down with RJ Garwood, who recently retired from the Huntington Beach PD Air Support Unit.
Garwood was the pilot-in-command on Feb. 19, 2022, flying over a fight call in Newport Beach, California. After establishing an orbit over the incident, Garwood and Nick Vella, who was acting as the tactical flight officer on this night, experienced an uncommanded right yaw. The aircraft ultimately crashed into the water off Newport Beach approximately a quarter mile from the incident they had been working. Vella did not survive the incident.
Garwood is now on a mission to transform a tragic situation into something that will spur change in the industry and save countless lives. In this impactful interview, Garwood talks about surviving the incident and a career in public safety — both mentally and physically.
The Hangar Z Podcast would like to thank its sponsors Metro Aviation, SHOTOVER, and CNC Technologies, as well as Patreon.
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