1 dead after helicopter crashes in water near Miami during photo shoot: Authorities
One person is dead and two others were critically injured after a helicopter crashed into the water near Miami on Wednesday while conducting a photo shoot of a speedboat event, according to authorities.
Three people were on board the helicopter, which crashed into Biscayne Bay, according to the U.S. Coast Guard.
The photo shoot was of a speedboat event called Poker Run, according to National Transportation Safety Board investigator Gene Rambo. One of the boats participating in the event made a mayday call around 11:20 a.m. to report the crash, he said.
Rescue personnel who responded to the mayday call found a good Samaritan providing life-saving efforts to a man who ultimately died at the scene, Miami-Dade Sheriff Rosie Cordero-Stutz said during a press briefing on Wednesday.
The sheriff's office identified the deceased victim Thursday as the pilot, 63-year-old Tomas Pendas.
Two other men were located in the water and transported from the scene to a hospital, authorities said. The passengers -- ages 52 and 27 -- sustained minor injuries and have since been released from the hospital, the sheriff's office said Thursday.
The Robinson R44 helicopter had departed North Perry Airport about 10:10 a.m. Wednesday, according to the NTSB.
It crashed around 11:15 a.m. ET in the water east of the Miami Executive Airport, according to the Federal Aviation Administration. The airport is located about 20 miles southwest of downtown Miami.
The cause of the crash is unknown at this time, according to Cordero-Stutz.
The helicopter wreckage was still in the water Thursday, according to Rambo. It is expected to be removed by Friday and transported to a facility for further examination, he said.
The FAA and NTSB are investigating.
Multiple agencies responded, including the Coast Guard, Customs and Border Protection Air and Marine Operations and Miami-Dade Fire Rescue.
The sheriff's office said Thursday it would like to speak to the good Samaritan "to thank them for their swift actions and lifesaving efforts."
