A quiet afternoon near Michigan’s Lake St. Clair quickly turned dramatic on Sunday when a helicopter unexpectedly crashed into the water near a popular waterfront spot.
What was supposed to be a routine landing near Cabana Blue — a well-known restaurant in Clay Township — ended in chaos, sending beachgoers into a frenzy and raising serious questions about what went wrong.
Helicopter Goes Down Next to Packed Restaurant
According to local authorities, the chopper was trying to land in a vacant lot beside Cabana Blue, right along Anchor Bay.
It’s a location many locals and boaters are familiar with — often buzzing with weekend traffic and sunshine seekers.
But this time, all eyes were on the sky.
The aircraft, which officials confirmed was privately owned, didn’t quite make the landing.
Witnesses say it suddenly tipped upward before violently crashing onto its side and tumbling into the nearby water.
Shocking Footage Captures the Crash
Video footage shared by Click On Detroit shows the intense moment just before the crash.
In the clip, a bright red helicopter hovers above the landing spot for a few seconds — and then abruptly pitches upward, its tail lifting before the entire chopper flips and crashes down.
Dust and debris cloud the view as screams erupt from stunned onlookers.
Photos taken immediately after the incident reveal smoke rising from the wreckage.
The crash happened alarmingly close to the shoreline, and some reports suggest the tail may have struck the ground before the full impact.
No Reported Injuries Despite the Scare
Incredibly — and somewhat miraculously — no injuries have been reported.
First responders were quick to arrive, securing the scene and launching an investigation into what caused the crash.
Authorities haven’t yet released further details, but the investigation remains ongoing.
Officials Still Digging Into What Went Wrong
At this point, officials from both the Clay Township Police Department and the Lake St. Clair Police Department are working together to gather more information.
While we know the helicopter was privately owned, there’s still no official word on whether mechanical failure, pilot error, or some other issue was to blame.
The story is still developing, and updates are expected as authorities learn more.