A helicopter which was coasting above a popular Southern California beach Saturday suddenly lost control and began spiralling in midair, eventually losing altitude and slamming into a row of palms as stunned sunbathers and beachgoers looked on. Multiple videos posted online show the aircraft twirling clockwise above Huntington Beach, then plunging toward the edge of the beach, where it becomes wedged between palms and a staircase near Pacific coast Highway.
The Huntington Beach Fire Department said five people were hospitalised, including two who were in the helicopter and were “safely pulled from the wreckage.” Three other people on the street were injured, with the footage showing the moment of impact circulated widely on X and other social media platforms.
Details on their injuries were not immediately available. No cause was released.
The accident happened just before 2pm local time on Saturday close to a parking lot off Pacific Coast Highway, according to firefighters.
The aircraft’s tail broke off during the crash, with the remainder of the helicopter still wedged between the staircase and palm trees for several hours.
Eyewitness Kevin Bullat said: “You can hear this odd sound that didn’t sound right.
“I looked out and I see the helicopter spiralling out of control. … My friend saw shrapnel, or just debris, catapulting across PCH.”
A statement issued by the City of Huntington Beach said: “HBPD and HBFD personnel immediately arrived on scene and contained the area.
“Five people were transported to the hospital for treatment.
“The helicopter involved is associated with the Cars and Copters event scheduled for tomorrow.
“The FAA and NTSB have been notified, and the investigation remains ongoing.”
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) have both been notified, with an investigation into the crash ongoing.
The accident comes just days after a REACH Air Medical air ambulance helicopter crashed upside down onto eastbound Highway 50 in Sacramento, also in California, on Monday evening just after 7pm.
At least four people were seriously injured, including the pilot, nurse, and paramedic who were all in critical condition and hospitalised.
The aircraft had just returned from delivering a patient to a hospital when it experienced an in-air emergency, with witnesses describing it “going down quickly” amid slowing traffic, though no highway drivers were hurt.
One woman was trapped under the wreckage and freed by about 15 bystanders with assistance from responders
