Video: Helicopter Spins In Air, Crashes Into Trees At California Beach, 5 Injured

At least five people were injured Saturday afternoon when a helicopter crashed in California's Huntington Beach. The wrecked aircraft got tangled and dangled from several palm trees near the Pacific Coast Highway, authorities said.

The Huntington Beach Police Department and Fire Department responded to the crash at the intersection of Pacific Coast Highway and Huntington Street. Two people were reportedly pulled from the helicopter, while three others were injured on the street. All five individuals were transported to local hospitals. Their conditions have not been released.

BREAKING ???????? #HuntingtonBeach / #California

New social media video has emerged from the Helicopter crash in HB. Witnesses say there may have been a bird strike with a tail rotor. HB Fire has upgraded this to a multi casualty incident, and multiple people have been… https://t.co/RaWw9pLRNm pic.twitter.com/SoshJ99gm9

— OC Scanner ???????? ???????? (@OC_Scanner) October 11, 2025

Videos uploaded online show the helicopter spinning sideways as its rear rotor appeared to fail. The aircraft plummeted toward the ground but was partially cushioned by a row of palm trees at the edge of the beach. One of the trees snapped and fell onto the helicopter, leaving it trapped beneath the fallen trunk. First responders and dozens of bystanders rushed to the scene.

BREAKING: A helicopter has crashed in Huntington Beach, California.

Locals are reporting that the helicopter is stuck between a building and palm trees, according to the Citizen app.

It's unclear if there are any serious injuries at this time. pic.twitter.com/qRnbdDldSl

— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) October 11, 2025

The tail snapped off in the crash. The aircraft ended up lodged between the palm trees and the outdoor stairway of the pedestrian bridge that runs over Pacific Coast Highway to the Hyatt Regency Huntington Beach Resort and Spa.

"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 Pacific Coast Highway," a man who saw the crash told CBS News.

Police confirmed that the helicopter was associated with the annual "Cars 'N Copters" fundraising event, scheduled to take place Sunday. The cause of the crash remains under investigation.