Helicopter Crashes Into Pedestrian Bridge in Huntington Beach — Five Injured During “Cars N’ Copters” Event
HUNTINGTON BEACH, Calif. (KABC) — Chaos erupted Saturday afternoon when a helicopter crashed into a pedestrian bridge in Huntington Beach, injuring five people and startling crowds gathered for the popular Cars N’ Copters event.
According to city officials, the aircraft went down around 2 p.m. in a beach parking lot between Twin Dolphins Drive and Beach Boulevard, directly across from several hotels along Pacific Coast Highway.
Video obtained by Eyewitness News captures the terrifying moment the helicopter plummeted and struck the bridge, scattering debris across the area.
“I never thought that would happen — never in a million years,” one shocked witness told reporters.
The wreckage came to rest near the front of the Hyatt Regency Hotel, tangled in trees. Videos posted to social media show first responders and bystanders rushing toward the scene within moments of impact.
Huntington Beach Police confirmed that two people aboard the helicopter were rescued from the wreckage and taken to the hospital. Three pedestrians on the ground were also injured. The extent of all five victims’ injuries remains unclear.
Witnesses described hearing a series of loud popping noises just before the crash.
“We were at the beach catching waves when we heard this loud ‘pop, pop,’” another witness recalled. “Then we saw the helicopter just come crashing down.”
Authorities say the helicopter had been scheduled to participate in the Cars N’ Copters event, which draws large crowds of aviation and car enthusiasts each year. Despite the crash, organizers have confirmed that Sunday’s portion of the event will continue as planned.
Many beachgoers praised the quick response from emergency crews, saying their actions prevented a far more devastating outcome.
“This could’ve been a lot worse,” one bystander said. “There were hundreds of people lined up. We’re lucky it wasn’t worse than it was.”
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) have been notified and are investigating the cause of the crash. However, both agencies noted that due to the ongoing government shutdown, they may be limited in responding to inquiries.
