A helicopter plummeted from the skies into the ocean waters off Miami Beach, narrowly missing a beach packed with tourists, according to AP News.
The Miami Beach Police Department (MBPD) tweeted a video of the helicopter crash. It appears the helicopter may have experienced engine issues as it quickly lost altitude and slammed into the waters just off the beach near 10th street.
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.
1/2 pic.twitter.com/heSIqnQtle
— Miami Beach Police (@MiamiBeachPD) February 19, 2022
MBPD confirmed the incident occurred around 1310 ET, and two occupants were transported to Jackson Memorial Hospital. They were in stable condition. A third occupant was not injured in the crash.
Dozens of beachgoers whipped out their smartphones and captured the helicopter upside down in the water.
South Beach Miami Helicopter crash pic.twitter.com/6dmdGFx2pB
— iggy luko (@LukoIggy) February 19, 2022
I’m sittin on south beach Miami… a fuckin helicopter has just crashed into the sea in front of us… pic.twitter.com/U2RCcy63Ot
— stan the man (@StanthemanAVFC) February 19, 2022
Helicopter Crash directly in front of beach goers on 10th st and Ocean Drive in Miami Beach, Fl. I just cleared the area so they can call the helicopter out, they pic.twitter.com/ZnpGY4nvPY
— How To Lose W8 Fast (@HowToLoseW8Fast) February 19, 2022
MBPD said Federal Aviation Administration and National Transportation Safety Board responded to the scene and took over the investigation.
Why don’t helicopters have ballistic reserve parachute systems in case of an emergency, so incidents like these don’t happen?
