Skip To...
Heart-stopping video captured the moment a helicopter spiraled out of the sky and slammed onto the Huntington Beach boardwalk in California, and somehow, everyone survived. The crash, which unfolded Saturday afternoon along Pacific Coast Highway, left five people hospitalized but alive in what witnesses are calling nothing short of a miracle.
The footage, which you can see in the article below, shows the helicopter spinning violently before clipping palm trees and crumpling into the pavement near shops and restaurants. The impact scattered debris across the boardwalk as onlookers screamed and ran for cover.
It Spun Like a Toy Before It Hit
According to Huntington Beach Fire officials, two people were aboard the helicopter when it went down in the 21500 block of Pacific Coast Highway, and three pedestrians on the ground were also injured. Despite the violent impact, officials say everyone is expected to recover.
“The helicopter started spinning like a toy and just dropped,” one witness told NBC Los Angeles. “It was like something out of a movie, and I couldn’t believe anyone survived.”
Emergency crews shut down several lanes of Pacific Coast Highway as they worked to free victims from the wreckage. All five were transported to nearby hospitals for treatment.
Investigators Searching for Answers
Authorities have not yet determined what caused the aircraft to lose control, though some witnesses reported hearing sputtering noises before it crashed. The Federal Aviation Administration and National Transportation Safety Board are leading the investigation.
The crash occurred near the site of the popular Cars ’N Copters event, a luxury car and helicopter showcase that draws thousands each year to Huntington Beach. Officials have not confirmed whether the aircraft was participating in the event.
Videos circulating on social media show multiple angles of the terrifying descent, one clip capturing the helicopter spinning midair before it slammed down among palm trees, which may have cushioned the fall just enough to save lives.
“It could’ve wiped out half the block,” said one nearby resident. “We were lucky this time.”
For Huntington Beach locals, it’s a scene they’ll talk about for years and proof that luck and timing can change everything.
