Helicopter Was Part of Cars N’ Copters Event Before Crashing Into a Pedestrian Bridge in Huntington Beach
HUNTINGTON BEACH, CALIFORNIA (October 12, 2025) – Five people were injured when a helicopter crashed into palm trees and a pedestrian bridge in Huntington Beach.
Orange County officials are saying the accident took place around 2 PM on Saturday afternoon. Video footage of the crash shows the helicopter going into a tailspin before hitting palm trees and a pedestrian bridge in a parking lot near Twin Dolphin Drive.
Firefighters were called to the scene to help the victims. Two people were in the helicopter at the time of the crash. Both were injured and transported to the hospital.
Three pedestrians were also injured and taken to the hospital to receive treatment. The helicopter was apparently part of a Cars N’ Copters event taking place nearby.
A full investigation into the accident remains ongoing.
Jeff Korek and the attorneys at GLK Law have extensive experience handling aviation accidents. They represented the family of Carlos Berl, who died in a plane crash during the production of American Made, starring Tom Cruise.
Liability for Huntington Beach Helicopter Crashes
Helicopter companies are considered common carriers, and their pilots are required to operate with a great deal of caution to avoid collisions. According to the Judicial Council of California Civil Jury Instructions, “Common carriers must carry passengers [or property] safely. Common carriers must use the highest care and the vigilance of a very cautious person. They must do all that human care, vigilance, and foresight reasonably can do under the circumstances to avoid harm to passengers [or property].” Helicopter owners must take certain actions to ensure safe flights.
- Maintenance: Owners must ensure helicopters are kept in excellent condition at all times. In particular, they must be maintained according to manufacturer specifications.
- Pilot Qualifications: Owners must ensure that only qualified and well-trained pilots are allowed to act as pilots. They must verify pilot ratings and certifications.
- Operational Safety Procedures: Owners must establish and enforce safe operating procedures. This includes ensuring that flights do not take place in adverse weather conditions.
The vast majority of helicopter accidents are preventable and involve some amount of human error. In particular, pilots may fail to follow emergency procedures if a helicopter begins to malfunction. When a pilot causes an accident, their employer could be held at fault. Employers in California are typically liable for the wrongful actions of their workers operating within the course and scope of their job duties. Liability for any helicopter crash could be multifaceted and also implicate any company that improperly maintained a helicopter.
Steps to Take After an Orange County Helicopter Accident
Helicopters are relatively safe, but there are still a number of serious crashes that take place each year. According to one report by the United States Helicopter Safety Team (USHST), there were 78 accidents involving helicopters in 2024. Eleven of these accidents resulted in fatalities. In total, 26 people lost their lives. It is important that certain actions are taken after any helicopter accident.
- Investigation: The police should be called to the scene as soon as possible so they can begin an initial investigation. However, helicopter accidents will typically be more thoroughly investigated by the FAA and NTSB.
- Medical Evaluation: Any person injured in a helicopter crash should seek medical evaluation and treatment. A thorough evaluation can reveal the full extent of a person’s injuries.
- Legal Support: Victims of helicopter crashes should strongly consider speaking with experienced legal counsel. An attorney can take steps to ensure that your legal rights are being protected.
It can be difficult to know what to do after any helicopter crash. Victims may be left with serious injuries that impair their ability to work. They may also be burdened with high medical bills. To make matters worse, the operators that cause these accidents and their insurance providers will virtually never accept responsibility for a crash. This is where having an attorney can become enormously helpful.
Investigating Orange County Helicopter Accidents
We at GLK Law extend our best wishes to all of the people injured in this Huntington Beach helicopter crash. Any person who may have more information should reach out to investigators. There needs to be a thorough investigation into what went wrong so that similar accidents can be prevented.
Have you or someone that you care about been injured in an Orange County helicopter crash? You may have legal recourse. Our team of aviation accident attorneys is here to support you. We are committed to helping accident victims get the support and justice that they need to recover. Whether you just have legal questions or are thinking about hiring an attorney, we are here for you. You can reach out to us anytime at (516) 908-9792.
