Video footage from Huntington Beach, California, shows the terrifying moment a helicopter spiraled out of control and crashed into a waterfront hotel on Saturday.

According to initial reports, the aircraft appeared to suffer a ‘tail rotor failure’ before plummeting from the sky and slamming into the Hyatt Hotel, crushing several palm trees outside.

Two people were on board the ill-fated helicopter and both managed to escape. However, three people on the ground were injured and transported to a nearby hospital, KTLA5 reported.

Emergency crews rushed to the scene within moments, with the Huntington Beach Fire Department confirming that multiple units responded to the crash site.

Video footage from Huntington Beach, California, shows the terrifying moment a helicopter crashed into a waterfront hotel

The exact cause of the crash remains under investigation as authorities work to determine what led to the mechanical failure.

One witness described the dramatic scene on X, calling it a ‘rough landing’ and noting that ‘it could’ve been a lot worse.’

This is a breaking news story.