Bell 222 Tragedy in the U.S.: Helicopter Crashes into Parking Lot!
A helicopter crashed during an event in Huntington Beach, California, injuring five people, including a child. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the NTSB have launched an investigation into the accident.
In Huntington Beach, located in Southern California, a helicopter crash on Saturday afternoon left five people injured, including a child. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) have launched an investigation into the incident.
Details of the Incident
According to a statement by the Huntington Beach Fire Department, the crash occurred around 2:00 p.m. local time near a parking lot between Beach Boulevard and Twin Dolphins Drive, along the Pacific Coast Highway (PCH).
Authorities announced that the helicopter involved was a twin-turboshaft Bell 222 model manufactured in 1980. Two people on board the aircraft were rescued from the wreckage alive. Three pedestrians on the street were also injured by the impact and taken to hospital.
Officials have not yet released information regarding the condition of the injured. Following the crash, police closed the section of PCH between Huntington Street and Beach Boulevard around 3:00 p.m. and urged the public to stay away from the area.
Eyewitnesses Describe Dramatic Moments
Videos shared on social media show the helicopter spinning several times before hitting palm trees and the exterior stairs of a pedestrian bridge leading to the Hyatt Regency Huntington Beach Resort & Spa.
In some clips, a part appears to detach from the helicopter moments before it crashes.
Eyewitness Kevin Bullat described what he saw:
“I heard a strange noise, and when I looked outside, I saw the helicopter spinning out of control. My friend saw debris flying toward the PCH.”
Wreckage pieces scattered across the scene, a detached helicopter tail, and damaged vehicles were observed after the crash. As of 4:30 p.m., part of the helicopter’s fuselage remained wedged between the bridge stairs and palm trees.
Crashed During an Event
The area where the crash occurred was hosting a “special helicopter landing party” as part of the “Cars ’N Copters On the Coast” event held the same day.
The event, organised by MD Helicopters at the Offshore 9 Rooftop Lounge, invited attendees to “watch helicopter landings from above.”
Despite the crash, the organisers announced that the event would not be cancelled:
“Our thoughts and prayers are with everyone affected by today’s unfortunate incident. Our plan is to continue with the event tomorrow as scheduled. Should there be any changes, we will update the public.”
Investigation Launched
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) have launched a comprehensive investigation into the cause of the crash.
Preliminary findings suggest that the helicopter lost control during flight. The exact cause will be determined following technical inspections and analysis of flight data.
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