HUNTINGTON BEACH, Calif. (KABC) -- Three days after a horrifying helicopter crash in Huntington Beach , a massive crane finally lifted the aircraft off of the structure that it crashed into.

The helicopter was lowered onto a flatbed truck while hundreds of people lined up behind a fence to watch the process.

Five people were injured in Saturday's crash, including three people on the ground whose conditions remain unclear.

The pilot who crashed the helicopter has been identified as Eric Nixon. Nixon's father-in-law says he's recovering in the hospital with broken ribs, a crushed vertebrae and several bruises.

The only other person on the helicopter said she is about to go in for another surgery, posting on Instagram with a caption that said in part, "I can't thank Eric enough. Not on

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