Huntington Beach helicopter crash: Five people rushed to hospital after chopper spins out of control

Five people, including a child, have been rushed to hospital after a helicopter lost control and crashed near a busy California beach.

The terrifying incident unfolded just after 2pm on Saturday (local time) near a car park off Pacific Coast Highway at Huntington Beach, roughly 60km south of Los Angeles.

The chopper was seen hovering near a block of apartments before it began spiralling out of control, ultimately crashing into palm trees outside the building.

Two people on board were pulled from the wreckage and rescued safely. Three pedestrians nearby were also injured in the crash.

All five were taken to hospital, though their conditions remain unknown.

Dramatic footage shared on social media captures the moment the aircraft began to spin mid-air, with one horrified beachgoer shouting, “Oh no, oh no, oh my god, oh my god!” as the chopper plunged to the ground.

The tail of the helicopter snapped off in the crash, with the rest of the aircraft wedged between the staircase of the building and palm trees hours after it made impact.

Authorities have closed the area off as they investigate the cause of the accident.

The crash comes just weeks after a devastating helicopter accident in Sacramento, where a medical emergency aircraft crash-landed on a busy stretch of Highway 50, killing one and injuring two others.

The crash claimed the life of flight nurse Suzie Smith, who was seriously injured and had been in a critical and unstable condition since the accident.

Also onboard were pilot Chad Millward and paramedic Margaret Davis, both of whom remain in critical condition.