A helicopter that was coasting above a popular Southern California beach Saturday suddenly lost control and began spiralling in midair, eventually losing altitude and slamming into a row of palms as stunned sunbathers and beachgoers looked on.

Multiple videos posted online show the aircraft twirling clockwise above Huntington Beach, then plunging toward the edge of the beach, where it becomes wedged between palms and a staircase near Pacific coast Highway.