One dead, two critical after Key Biscayne helicopter crash
The NTSB is leading the investigation into the Robinson R44 accident that submerged in Biscayne Bay on Wednesday.
By Robert Marshall ·
A man died and two others suffered critical injuries after a small helicopter crashed into Biscayne Bay off Key Biscayne on Wednesday morning. The accident has left families in the area waiting for identification while federal agencies work to determine what caused the aircraft to fall.
Miami-Dade County Sheriff Rosie Cordero-Stutz confirmed the death of one of the three men aboard the Robinson R44. She described the incident as a very tragic event. MDSO officials stated that a person on a nearby boat attempted CPR on the unresponsive victim before first responders arrived. Despite those life-saving efforts, the man was pronounced deceased on the scene.
The Federal Aviation Administration reported the crash occurred just after 11 a.m. near Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park. Flight tracking data from FlightAware indicates the helicopter departed from North Perry Airport in Pembroke Pines shortly before it went down. Cordero-Stutz said the aircraft was chartered and in the process of filming boats on the water at the time of the accident.
Air traffic controllers reported the float of the helicopter was upside down in the water. A yellow tarp, which officials believe covered the deceased pilot, was seen on a dock near the scene. The 7Skyforce air rescue team landed at No Name Harbor in Key Biscayne to retrieve the two survivors. Ralph Rayburn of 7Skyforce identified the area as the crash site and noted the presence of the yellow tarp in his live broadcast.
Paramedics transported the two surviving victims to Jackson Memorial Hospital’s Rider Trauma Center. Investigators said both patients are stable but in critical condition. The sheriff’s office had not publicly identified any of the three individuals as of Thursday morning, citing the need to notify loved ones first.
The National Transportation Safety Board is leading the investigation, with support from the Federal Aviation Administration. Investigators are currently working to figure out what led to the crash. Cordero-Stutz expressed condolences to the affected families and offered prayers for those lost.
