Avoid choosing the Annihilator Stealth as the NPC getaway option for the Kortz Center Heist right now, because the extraction helicopter can crash at the end and fail an otherwise successful run.
The problem is tied to the NPC-flown Annihilator Stealth getaway, not every helicopter use in the heist. The Kortz Center Heist itself can still be completed, but this specific extraction choice can waste a clean finale if you rely on it at the end.
Avoid the NPC Annihilator Stealth getaway
When setting up the Kortz Center Heist, do not pick the route that uses the Annihilator Stealth as your NPC extraction helicopter. That is the bugged choice players need to avoid right now.
This warning does not mean the entire heist is broken, and it does not mean every helicopter in GTA Online is unsafe. The issue is the NPC getaway/extraction version of the Annihilator Stealth that arrives to pick you up from the roof.
What the Annihilator Stealth crash does
The failure pattern is ugly because it happens after the hard part is already done. The NPC extraction helicopter arrives on the Kortz Center roof, picks up the crew, and then crashes right near the end of the finale for no obvious player-caused reason.
There is no clear damage trigger, nearby threat, or visible mistake causing it. In the repeated runs described so far, the helicopter simply performs the same crash and the mission fails.
The same failure was reproduced three times with this getaway choice, which makes replaying the identical extraction a poor bet. Until it is patched, treat this as a route selection problem and choose a different escape plan.
Safer getaway choices for Kortz Center
| Choice | Advice |
|---|---|
| Annihilator Stealth NPC extraction | Avoid it until the crash is fixed. |
| Other street or vehicle escape options | Use one of these instead for the finale. |
| Manual escape after leaving the gallery | Use this as the fallback if the heist is already locked in. |
KEY!Pick another getaway route or leave by another means instead of relying on the NPC Annihilator Stealth extraction. Street-based escapes and manual vehicle escapes are the practical safer play right now, especially if you want to protect an otherwise successful run.
There is also talk of a $2,000,000 upgrade possibly affecting this getaway option, but that fix has not been tested enough to rely on. Do not spend around that assumption if your immediate goal is simply to finish the heist cleanly.
Choose a non-Annihilator getaway before launching the finale so the roof extraction cannot crash and fail the run at the end.
If Annihilator Stealth is already selected
Your heist is not ruined just because the Annihilator Stealth was picked. If you are already committed to that setup, finish the objective and make your escape without depending on the helicopter pickup.
Use a manual escape route once the heist lets you leave the gallery.
STEP 1/4
Leave the gallery
Exit the gallery instead of waiting on the NPC helicopter as your only way out.
STEP 2/4
Move down the hill
If needed, walk down from the Kortz Center roof area toward the road.
STEP 3/4
Take a vehicle
Steal a police car or another usable vehicle once you reach street level.
STEP 4/4
Drive to the required location
Continue the finale by going to the marked destination through your own escape route.
Video help
Do not keep replaying the same Annihilator Stealth extraction and assume the crash was just random physics. The repeated pattern points to that getaway route, so changing the escape plan is the cleaner fix.
Also, do not assume your save, board, or whole heist is bricked. The known problem here is the NPC Annihilator Stealth extraction, not the entire Kortz Center Heist setup.
Do not pin this specific helicopter crash on optional prep names like Guard Routes, EMP Charges, Vault Keypad, or Advanced Avionics. The exact in-game menu label tied to the bugged choice is still unclear, but the risky choice itself is the Annihilator Stealth NPC getaway.
Separate Kortz Center route cautions
There are separate player complaints around the Staff Entrance route, including missing-timer behavior and instant detection after taking the primary target. Keep those reports separate from the Annihilator Stealth crash, because they describe different finale behavior.
If you run into that Staff Entrance issue, try a different approach such as the van/Loading Bay, Sewer, or rappel/Skylight route on your next attempt. For the helicopter bug, the direct fix is simpler: avoid the Annihilator Stealth NPC extraction.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Kortz Center Heist permanently ruined if I picked Annihilator Stealth?
No. If you already picked the Annihilator Stealth, you can still leave the gallery another way, head down toward the road, steal a police car or another vehicle, and continue to the required location.
Does the Annihilator Stealth bug affect player-flown helicopters too?
The warning is for the NPC-flown Annihilator Stealth extraction that picks you up from the Kortz Center roof. It is not a blanket warning against every player-flown helicopter use in GTA Online.
Can the $2,000,000 upgrade fix the bug?
Do not count on it. The $2,000,000 upgrade has been floated as a possible fix, but it is not a reliable workaround for players trying to finish the heist right now.
Are Guard Routes or EMP Charges the bugged prep missions?
No specific blame belongs on Guard Routes or EMP Charges for this crash. The issue to avoid is the Annihilator Stealth NPC getaway, not those optional prep choices.
What should I use instead of the Annihilator Stealth extraction?
Use another getaway route, a street-based vehicle escape, or a manual escape after leaving the gallery. The important part is avoiding the NPC Annihilator Stealth roof pickup until the crash is fixed.
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