A helicopter crashed near Huntington Beach on Saturday afternoon, leaving five people injured, including three bystanders on the ground, Fox News reported. The crash happened around 2 pm, near Pacific Coast Highway and Huntington Street, California. According to the officials, two people were inside the chopper when it went down. Both were pulled out safely, while three others nearby were injured. Everyone was rushed to the hospital shortly after.

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Helicopter crashes near Huntington Beach event

Tim Robinson, who lives in Huntington Beach and saw the crash happen, said he first thought it was part of a film shoot. “At first I thought it was a movie,” he told Fox News Digital. “It spun around a few times and slammed into that. It was crazy.” Robinson added that he walks that area of the beach almost every day. “It came down really low, then I heard a ping, something flew off the helicopter. After that, it started spinning out of control,” he said.

According to the reports, the crash happened near the Waterfront Beach Resort, where an event called Cars ’N Copters on the Coast was taking place. City officials later confirmed that the chopper was associated with the event.

Police have currently sealed the Pacific Coast Highway between Huntington Street and Beach Boulevard as emergency crews worked to clear the area. Drivers were asked to avoid the stretch for several hours.

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Dramatic visuals surface

Footage shared online showed the helicopter stuck between palm trees and a staircase near a parking lot. The tail of the same is completely wrecked. Debris was scattered across the ground, and one of the trees appeared to have fallen on the aircraft after it hit.

Authorities identified the aircraft as a 1980 Bell 222 (tail number N222EX). The helicopter is owned by aviation influencer Eric Nixon. The twin-engine model can seat up to ten people and fly at speeds of about 170 mph. Public data shows the chopper had just under 1,900 total flight hours and was fitted with Garmin navigation and dual controls.

Witnesses said the helicopter kind of lost control when its rear rotor failed. It began spinning before dropping into a line of trees that likely saved those inside. Investigators are still trying to find what caused the crash. Parts of the Pacific Coast Highway remained blocked off on Saturday evening as crews examined the wreckage.