Overview
- The helicopter went down just after 2 p.m. on Oct. 11 near Pacific Coast Highway between Beach Boulevard and Twin Dolphins Drive, police and fire officials said.
- Two people were pulled from the aircraft and three pedestrians were hurt, with multiple outlets reporting that a child was among the injured; all were hospitalized with conditions not yet disclosed.
- Videos show the aircraft spiraling before striking palm trees and a pedestrian-bridge stairway, leaving the fuselage wedged and the tail section separated.
- The FAA and NTSB have been notified and an investigation is underway, and sections of PCH were closed for hours as crews secured debris and preserved evidence.
- Media reports identify the helicopter as N222EX owned by aviation influencer Eric Nixon, with a family member telling the Orange County Register he was piloting and injured; officials have not confirmed a cause.