Three people were seriously injured after a helicopter crash in Sacramento, according to the California city’s fire department. Images from the accident site show a medical helicopter that crashed in the eastbound lanes of Highway 50.
Tonight, I flew along w/ Sac Sheriff in their helicopter. Every day is not a given. We were one of the first to show up at the helicopter crash from above. It was sobering. I pray for all in the crash. Thank our officers & all whom pilot for their public service. pic.twitter.com/YNbebycJmc
— Lisa Kaplan, Councilmember (@CM_LisaKaplan) October 7, 2025
The helicopter had transported a patient to a hospital and was returning to its point of departure when it encountered an “in-flight emergency” shortly after 7 p.m. local time (around 6 a.m. Greek time), according to Sacramento Fire Chief Justin Sylvia.
He said that at the time of the crash, the helicopter was carrying a pilot, a nurse, and a paramedic, all of whom were transported to local hospitals in “critical condition.” Mr. Sylvia said the crew consisted of two women and one man. One of the women was trapped beneath the helicopter, with citizens on the highway helping the fire department lift part of the helicopter to free the victim and transfer her to an ambulance.
“It took the strength of about 15 people to lift the aircraft enough to get her out,” Mr. Sylvia said at a press conference. He added: “There’s a fairly large debris field around this area. What’s fortunate for us, I would say, is the fact that the helicopter did not catch fire.”
No vehicles were involved in the accident and no one on the highway was injured, Mr. Sylvia said, adding that this was “amazing” given that the helicopter crashed in the center of the road.
“People reported seeing the helicopter falling rapidly. So all traffic slowed down,” he explained.
REACH Air Medical Services confirmed to ABC7 that three of its crew members were injured in the accident. The Federal Aviation Administration did not immediately respond to Reuters’ request for comment.
The road is expected to remain closed for an extended period, according to Officer Michael Harper, spokesperson for the California Highway Patrol.
