Huntington Beach Helicopter Crash: Bystanders Rescue Child from Wreckage

Helicopter Crash Aftermath

• 💥 Dramatic new video shows the moments immediately following a helicopter crash in Huntington Beach on Saturday afternoon.
• 🚁 The Bell 222 model chopper reportedly lost its tail rotor before crashing between palm trees and a pedestrian bridge near the Hyatt Hotel.
• 🚨 The crash site remains blocked off, with police guarding the area where the helicopter wreckage is located.

Rescue Efforts and Injuries

• 🆘 Bystanders are seen in the video attempting to free a young boy trapped underneath the wreckage.
• 🤕 Five people were injured in the incident: two on board the helicopter and three on the ground.
• 🩹 One injured individual, an 85-year-old Asian man, required medical attention for a head injury to stop bleeding.

Victims and Investigation

• 👨‍✈️ The pilot, identified as Eric Nixon, and a passenger were on board and are reported to be safe, receiving hospital check-ups.
• 💔 A GoFundMe page, not yet verified by KTLA, claims the young boy suffered a collapsed lung and brain bleed.
• ✈️ The investigation into the cause of the crash has been turned over to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

Event Context and Delays

• 🎉 The helicopter was part of a fundraising event called "Cars and Copters," which continued as planned on Sunday.
• 🚧 The government shutdown is affecting NTSB and FAA operations, making it unclear how long the wreckage will remain on scene.
• ⏳ Typically, NTSB investigations take about a month to complete.