A helicopter that was coasting above a popular Southern California beach Saturday suddenly lost control and began spiraling 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.
Details on their injuries were not immediately available. No cause was released.
The department said the helicopter was associated with an annual “Cars ‘N Copters” fundraising event planned for Sunday.
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.”
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