Coast Guard rescues two from Biscayne Bay helicopter wreck
Three people were aboard the aircraft when it went down east of Miami Executive Airport on Wednesday.
By Alexei Brooks ·
A Robinson R44 II helicopter crashed into Biscayne Bay on Wednesday morning, resulting in one death and two injuries. The US Coast Guard responded to the scene at approximately 11:30 a.m. The aircraft was carrying three people when it went down in the water east of Miami Executive Airport.
The Coast Guard confirmed that one passenger died. Two others were transported by emergency medical services to a facility for higher level of care. Miami-Dade fire rescue reported that both surviving patients had traumatic injuries. Ground units from Miami Fire Rescue and Key Biscayne Fire Rescue moved the adults to a landing zone. An air rescue team then flew them to a main trauma center.
Local fire departments and the Miami-Dade sheriff’s office coordinated the emergency response. The sheriff’s office stated that three individuals were involved in the incident. Emergency personnel from multiple agencies worked together at the scene. The investigation into the cause of the crash is currently ongoing.
The National Transportation Safety Board is leading the investigation. Aerial footage shared online showed the helicopter submerged upside down. Its yellow emergency floats remained attached to the aircraft. The Federal Aviation Administration has been contacted for additional comment on the event.
This incident occurred shortly after a separate aviation disaster in Florida. On Sunday, a business jet carrying nine people crashed in Greenacres, Palm Beach County. All nine individuals on board that flight died. Crew members reported accumulating ice, turbulence, and precipitation before declaring an emergency. The pilot warned air traffic control that the jet was in an overspeed condition before it nose-dived into the ground.
