At least three people aboard a helicopter that crashed into a Newport Beach home have died, according to local reports.
The John Wayne Airport confirmed the Robinson 44 helicopter had four passengers on board when it crashed just one mile southeast of the airport. Officials in the Orange County neighborhood are advising the public to avoid the area of the Bristol/Jamboree exit of the 73 freeway.
One person on the ground was also involved in the wreck, the Newport Beach Police confirmed after initially reporting that no people on the ground were involved.
Of the five people involved, three were killed, according to police. There was no word on the nature of other injuries.
The helicopter struck the yard and side wall of a home, and another home across the street had part of the tail rotor stuck in its tiled roof, according to KABC. Skid marks were seen on the road leading up to the crash site.
A neighbor told KABC that she feared for her own home.
“It was just this intense loud noise,” she said. “It sounded like a train coming through.”
The neighbor said she then “put my hand on the back of the helicopter and started praying over them. Because I knew at that point there weren’t any survivors.”
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