MIAMI BEACH, Fla. – An investigation is ongoing after a helicopter crashed into the ocean waters off Miami Beach.
It happened at approximately 1:10 p.m. Saturday near Ocean Drive between 9th and 11 Street.
One witness was Ana Diaz.
“My family was telling me when they saw the helicopter, ‘Anna come, come, come. It’s going down. It’s going down.’”
According to the FAA, the helicopter went down “under unknown circumstances” and three people were aboard.
Miami Beach police said two people were taken to Jackson Memorial Hospital in stable condition. The third passenger did not require hospitalization, officials said.
MBPD also tweeted video of the crash, which can be seen below.
This afternoon at 1:10 p.m., MBPD received a call of a helicopter crash in the ocean near 10 Street. Police and @MiamiBeachFire responded to the scene along with several partner agencies. Two occupants have been transported to Jackson Memorial Hospital in stable condition.
— Miami Beach Police (@MiamiBeachPD) February 19, 2022
1/2 pic.twitter.com/heSIqnQtle
Another witness to the crash was Shawn Adams, who described what he saw to Local 10 News.
“The whole beach ran to the scene,” said Adams, who is visiting Miami Beach from Las Vegas. “Probably ten guys pulling the skid down so it didn’t collapse, because it was sitting on the blade. When the blade snapped, the helicopter started going over, so while we are pulling the skid down, two guys were inside pulling the passengers out.”
Officers closed the beach between 9th Street and 11th Street following the crash.
Authorities said the aircraft was a Robinson R44 helicopter.
The identities of who flew the helicopter and who owns it are unknown.