A Bell 22SP helicopter crashed on Saturday, October 11, in Huntington Beach, California, during the charity event «Cars ‘N Copters on the Coast.» The pilot, Eric Nixon, known for his aerial stunts, lost control of the aircraft, which spun out of control before hitting palm trees and a pedestrian staircase near the Hyatt Regency. Five people were injured: Nixon and his passenger were rescued from the fuselage, while three bystanders were also hospitalized.
Nixon suffered broken ribs, compressed vertebrae, and bruises, according to his father-in-law. One of the injured is a child named Oliver Holland, who has a collapsed lung and brain hemorrhage; his family has launched a fundraising campaign to cover his medical expenses. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) are investigating the causes of the accident, which is suspected to have been caused by a tail rotor failure. The aircraft had been performing spectacular maneuvers as part of the event, raising concern among attendees. The crash was captured on video and quickly spread on social media, showing the helicopter losing stability in the air before falling near the coast.
Despite the incident, the event organizers confirmed that the activities scheduled for Sunday would proceed as planned.
