A tragic incident occurred on a prominent Hollywood movie set resulting in the deaths of two children and the decapitation of 1970s film star Vic Morrow. The unfortunate event took place during the filming of The Twilight Zone, a project co-directed by renowned filmmaker Steven Spielberg. The catastrophe occurred during a helicopter scene overseen by co-director John Landis, leading to the fatalities of Morrow, seven-year-old Myca Dinh Le, and six-year-old Renee Shin-Yi Chen.
The fatal accident occurred during a helicopter sequence at Indian Dunes, California, where a planned pyrotechnic explosion caused the helicopter’s rotor blades to be struck, causing it to crash into the water. The impact resulted in the deaths of Morrow and Le, while Chen was killed by the wreckage. The tragedy unfolded on July 23, 1982, witnessed by the children’s parents.
Following the incident, civil and criminal actions were taken against the production team, including director Landis. After a lengthy trial, Landis and four others were acquitted of involuntary manslaughter charges. Some prominent filmmakers expressed support for Landis, while Spielberg emphasized the importance of safety on set.
The families of the deceased children reached a settlement through civil lawsuits. The National Transportation Safety Board concluded that the accident was caused by explosions too close to the helicopter, leading to its uncontrollable descent. The report also highlighted the violation of child labor laws by having children on set during late hours and near hazardous elements.
Despite the tragic event, production continued, and the film, Twilight Zone: The Movie, was released in June 1983.
