Photo by: wsvn
Crews came to the aid of a pilot after a helicopter crashed in the water near Key Biscayne.
According to the Federal Aviation Administration, the Robinson R-44 went down at around 1:50 p.m. on Saturday after the pilot reported engine issues.
Video posted on social media showed onlookers at the scene and the helicopter in the water.
“I was just lying on the beach, and I’m looking out into the ocean . All of a sudden, I see a helicopter kind of get a little low,” said eyewitness Christopher Rodriguez, “and it keeps getting low, it keeps getting down, and all of a sudden, wham,’ hits the ground really loud.”
Beachgoers who spoke with 7News were startled by the rare sight off of Key Biscayne’s shore, just blocks away from Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park.
Rodriguez said he panicked.
“Everyone at the beach starts freaking out,” he said.
Rodriguez added that first responders arrived shortly after the crash.
“I’ve got to say, I think it was Coast Guard or the first responders, whoever arrived at the scene were very fast, I’d say within a minute,” said Rodriguez. “The helicopter wasn’t even fully underwater yet, and the first responders were there.”
Witnesses said a police marine unit rescued the pilot within minutes.
“I saw a raft appear, and I believe a man came up,” said Rodriguez. “A couple of helicopters came around, and that’s pretty much all that happened.”
Investigators said the pilot was the only person on board the aircraft, and he was assessed and treated at the scene.
Miami-Dade Fire Rescue officials said the pilot suffered minor injuries but was not taken to the hospital.
The FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board are investigating the crash, with NTSB taking the lead in the ongoing investigation.
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Source: Wsvn
