A helicopter crash has been reported from southern California on Saturday that has left at least five people injured. The incident occurred after the helicopter that was hovering above the popular Huntington Beach suddenly lost control and began spiralling midair. Law enforcement agencies responded to calls around 2pm of a helicopter crashing at a beach parking lot between Twin Dolphins Drive and Beach Boulevard in Huntington Beach, Fox News reported. The report added that the chopper was part of the "Cars ’N Copters on the Coast" event scheduled for Sunday, officials said. Multiple videos posted on social media showed the helicopter losing control and altitude as it hit a row of palms at the Huntington Beach as stunned sunbathers and beachgoers looked on. NEW: Man nearly gets crushed by a helicopter that crashed in Huntington Beach, California. "I was literally underneath the helicopter as it crashed. My life flashed before my eyes," the man posted. The helicopter crashed next to the Pacific Coast Highway near the bridge… pic.twitter.com/6d58umdRJA— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) October 11, 2025 Videos showed the chopper twirling clockwise above the beach, then falling towards the hedge of the beach, where it is wedged between palms and a staircase near Pacific coast Highway. According to the Huntington Beach Fire Department, at least five people have been hospitalised, including two who were onboard the helicopter and were “safely pulled from the wreckage". An Associated Press report stated that three other people were injured on the streets but details on their injuries were not immediately available. A spokesperson for the Huntington Beach Fire Department told Fox News, “As of this time, the two people who were in the helicopter have been safely pulled from the wreckage, and three people on the street have sustained injuries.” As per a press release by the City of Huntington Beach, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) have been informed about the incident. (with inputs from AP)
