INVESTIGATION. FIVE PEOPLE ARE IN THE HOSPITAL AFTER A HELICOPTER CRASH IN HUNTINGTON BEACH. VIDEO SHOWS THE MOMENT THE HELICOPTER CRASHED TO THE GROUND. LOOK AT YOUR SCREEN. THE HELICOPTER SPINNING IN THE AIR RIGHT THERE. FIREFIGHTERS SAY THEY RESCUED TWO PEOPLE FROM THE HELICOPTER AND THREE PEOPLE ON THE GROUND WERE ALSO HURT. THEY WERE ALL TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL FOR TREATMENT. THE CAUSE OF THIS CRASH IS NOW UNDER INVESTIGATION. ONE WITNESS SAYS THE HELICOPTER APPEARED READY TO LAND. HE SAYS ITS LANDING GEAR WAS DOWN, BUT THE CHOPPER APPROACHED THE GROUND. A PIECE BROKE OFF AND THAT SENT THAT H
5 taken to hospital after helicopter spirals out of control, slams into palms in Southern California
Updated: 8:31 PM PDT Oct 11, 2025
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.| RELATED | Suzie Smith, nurse onboard Sacramento helicopter that crashed, has diedThe Huntington Beach Fire Department said five people were hospitalized, 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.
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.
| RELATED | Suzie Smith, nurse onboard Sacramento helicopter that crashed, has died
The Huntington Beach Fire Department said five people were hospitalized, 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.