Cars ‘N Copters on the Coast, an annual fundraising event in Huntington Beach, California, is scheduled to still go ahead Sunday, organizers said, after a helicopter spun out of control and crashed Saturday, resulting in five people being hospitalized.
“We are sending our prayers out to all involved in the unfortunate incident today,” said a statement on the event’s Facebook page on Saturday. “Our plan for now is to move forward with our event tomorrow, Sunday, October 12th. We will advise everyone at the earliest possible opportunity if that plan changes.”
Why It Matters
The event in Huntington Beach draws significant crowds, showcasing exotic cars and helicopters while supporting the Huntington Beach Police and Community Foundation.
Federal authorities are still investigating the cause of the incident.
What To Know
A helicopter linked to the event crashed around 2 p.m. Saturday in a parking lot along the Pacific Coast Highway, according to the Huntington Beach Police Department. Emergency crews arrived at the scene between Twin Dolphins Drive and Beach Boulevard, where the helicopter had come to rest on a pedestrian staircase near the Waterfront Beach Resort. Five people—including two onboard and three on the ground—were transported to local hospitals. The severity of their injuries was not immediately disclosed.
The affected helicopter, a 1980 Bell 222, was intended for a VIP landing at an associated Saturday event. Dramatic videos posted on social media show the helicopter spin out of control, hit palm trees, and crash onto a bridge over Pacific Coast Highway, scattering debris and sending pedestrians running for cover.
Huntington Beach Police urged the public to avoid the closed-off area for several hours following the accident. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) are leading an investigation into the cause, which as of Sunday has not been determined.
The helicopter is reportedly registered to Eric Nixon, an aviation enthusiast known for sharing dramatic flying stunts online, according to the Daily Mail, although it is not confirmed if Nixon was piloting at the time of the crash.
What People Are Saying
Matt Kubota, Huntington Beach Fire Department battalion chief, told NBC Los Angeles: “The five people that were transported to the hospital are in an unknown condition right now, but as far as we know, there has been no further change in those conditions.”
Eyewitness Tom Polkow told The New York Times: “He just started spinning out of control and then went down on his side on a pedestrian staircase that goes up over Pacific Coast Highway to the hotels.”
What Happens Next
Authorities will continue their investigation into the cause of the crash, with the FAA and NTSB collecting evidence and interviewing witnesses. No timeline for completion of their inquiry has been made public.
