5 individuals, together with a toddler, had been hospitalized when a helicopter crashed within the Southern California metropolis of Huntington Seaside on Saturday afternoon.
It occurred simply after 2 p.m. native time close to a car parking zone off Pacific Coast Freeway, between Seaside Boulevard and Twin Dolphins Drive, in keeping with Huntington Seaside firefighters.
Metropolis officers inform CBS Information that the 2 individuals on the helicopter had been safely pulled from the wreckage. Three pedestrians on the road had been additionally injured within the incident, and all 5 individuals had been taken to the hospital for remedy. None of their situations was identified.
KCAL Information
Police closed PCH between Huntington Avenue and Seaside Boulevard at round 3 p.m., as they started to analyze the crash. They requested individuals to keep away from the realm and use alternate routes for at the very least a number of hours after the closure was put into place.
A dramatic video posted on social media exhibits the helicopter spinning a number of occasions earlier than crashing into palm timber and the outside stairway of the pedestrian bridge that runs over PCH to the Hyatt Regency Huntington Seaside Resort and Spa.
Different video footage exhibits an object falling from the helicopter moments earlier than it plummeted from the sky.
With SkyCal over the scene, scattered particles was seen within the seashore entry car parking zone, a big a part of which was blocked off by police tape. The tail of the plane broke off within the crash, with the remainder of the helicopter nonetheless wedged between the staircase and palm timber as of 4:30 p.m.
There have been a number of different small helicopters parked within the car parking zone close to the place the crash occurred, simply in entrance of the Hyatt Regency and Waterfront Seaside Resort. An “unique helicopter touchdown occasion” was being hosted by MD Helicopters on the Offshore 9 Rooftop Lounge on Saturday afternoon, the place attendees had been invited to “watch helicopters arrive from a chook’s eye view.” The touchdown occasion was scheduled forward of the Vehicles ‘N Copters On the Coast fundamental occasion on Sunday.
Occasion organizers stated that the occasion was not going to be canceled.
“We’re sending our prayers out to all concerned within the unlucky incident as we speak,” stated a press release. “Our plan for now could be to maneuver ahead with our occasion tomorrow, Sunday, October twelfth. We are going to advise everybody on the earliest attainable alternative if that plan adjustments.”
Witnesses stated that the helicopter appeared to dip in the direction of the bridge earlier than it misplaced management and crashed.
“You’ll be able to hear this odd sound that did not sound correct,” stated Kevin Bullat, who noticed the scene unfold. “I seemed out and I see the helicopter spiraling uncontrolled. … My good friend noticed shrapnel, or simply particles, catapulting throughout PCH.”
It is unclear what precipitated the helicopter to crash. The Federal Aviation Administration and the Nationwide Transportation Security Board have been notified of the crash, metropolis officers stated. They imagine that an investigation report shall be prepared inside 30 days.
The helicopter was a Bell 222, which is powered by two turboshaft engines, and was manufactured in 1980. Although officers have not but recognized any of the victims, CBS Information Los Angeles has discovered that the helicopter was registered to a person named Eric Nixon.
An Instagram account named Nixon Helicopters posted to say that each the pilot and passenger had been protected and hospitalized following the crash. Different associates of Nixon’s additionally posted on social media, claiming that he broke some ribs and fractured his backbone.
