A near disaster. The helicopter crash occurred near a popular Miami swimming spot. This accident left only two injured, these being on board the aircraft, said the authorities of the State of Florida.
On the afternoon of February 19, Miami police shared this incredible and chilling video of the helicopter crash in Miami Beach on social media.
The video images show us the Robinson R44 type device losing altitude as it comes dangerously close to the shore where there is a crowd of bathers. It ends up crashing into the ocean just a few meters from the beach, causing fear and amazement among bathers and tourists who come to relax at the water’s edge.
Alerted by a witness to the tragedy, the emergency services intervened quickly on the scene of the accident.
This afternoon at 1:10 pm, 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 were transported to Jackson Memorial Hospital in stable condition.
1/2 pic.twitter.com/heSIqnQtle
— Miami Beach Police (@MiamiBeachPD) February 19, 2022
“There were three passengers on board the aircraft. Two were taken to hospital,” police said. She added that these injured, taken care of in the emergency room of Jackson Memorial Hospital, were in stable condition. As for the third passenger, Miami Beach police said he escaped unscathed.
Part of the beach has been evacuated and closed to the public.
A still unexplained accident
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said in a press release, quoted by CNN, that the aircraft crashed under “unknown circumstances”. She said she has initiated a joint investigation with the National Transportation Safety Board to determine the causes of this accident.
Interviewed by CNN, and after watching the video, Mary Schiavo, a former inspector general for the U.S. Department of Transportation, said the engine of the Robinson R44 appeared to be losing power, suggesting engine failure could be the cause of the accident. She also added that it was clear to her that the pilot had the right reflexes to avoid the worst because he did everything to get away from the people present on the beach before the crash occurred.
“There are two important things that can be seen by looking at the video images. The first is that the pilot was well trained and trained. Second, he was able to maintain some control over the aircraft because once the engines failed, he was able to maintain his trajectory until the final crash,” she told CNN.