California helicopter crash horror as aircraft spirals out of control | World | News
A helicopter hovering over a popular Southern California beach on Saturday suddenly lost control and began spiraling through the air, eventually losing altitude and crashing into a row of palm trees as stunned sunbathers and beachgoers looked on. Multiple videos posted online show the plane circling clockwise over Huntington Beach, then diving toward the edge of the beach, where it became wedged between palm trees and a staircase near the Pacific Coast Highway.
The Huntington Beach Fire Department said five people, including two people aboard the helicopter, were taken to the hospital and “safely extricated from the wreckage.” While 3 more people on the street were injured, images showing the moment of impact were widely spread on X and other social media platforms.
Details about their injuries were not immediately available. No reason was explained.
According to fire crews, the crash happened just before 2pm local time on Saturday near a parking lot off the Pacific Coast Highway.
The plane’s tail broke off during the crash, leaving the remainder of the helicopter still trapped between ladders and palm trees for several hours.
Eyewitness Kevin Bullat said: “You can hear this weird sound that doesn’t sound right.
“I looked outside and saw the helicopter going out of control. … My friend saw shrapnel or just debris flying into PCH.”
The following statements were made by the City of Huntington Beach: “HBPD and HBFD personnel immediately arrived on scene and took the area under control.
“Five people were taken to hospital for treatment.
“The helicopter involved is linked to the Cars and Cops event scheduled for tomorrow.
“The FAA and NTSB have been notified and the investigation is ongoing.”
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) have been notified and are continuing to investigate the crash.
The crash occurred just days after a REACH Air Medical air ambulance helicopter crashed upside down on eastbound Highway 50 in Sacramento, California, just after 7 p.m. Monday evening.
At least four people were seriously injured, including the pilot, nurse and paramedic, who were in critical condition and taken to hospital.
The plane had just returned from delivering a patient to hospital when it encountered a mid-air emergency and witnesses described the plane “descending rapidly” due to slowing traffic, although no motorway drivers were injured.
A woman trapped under the rubble was rescued by approximately 15 people with the help of surrounding people.
