Helicopter spins out of control into palm trees at popular California beach

Five people taken to hospital after crash at Huntington Beach in front of beachgoers

A helicopter flying above a popular southern California beach suddenly began spiralling out of control, eventually losing altitude and crashing into a row of palm trees as beachgoers looked on.

Videos posted online show the aircraft starting to spin above Huntington Beach then plunging towards the edge of the beach, where it becomes wedged between palms and a staircase near the Pacific Coast highway.

The Huntington Beach fire department said five people were taken to hospital including two who were in the helicopter and were safely pulled from the wreckage" after the crash on Saturday.