Two injured, third killed after helicopter crash near Key Biscayne

Two people were injured and a third person was believed to have died after a small helicopter crashed into the water near Nixon Beach, off Crandon Boulevard southwest of Key Biscayne, according to WPEC citing U.S. Coast Guard information. The incident was reported to have occurred around 11:30 a.m. The crash site was described as being in the water near the 1200 block of Crandon Boulevard, with Miami-Dade Fire Rescue responding and a boat observed at the scene by WPTV’s affiliate footage.

Emergency responders located the wreckage area with a Miami-Dade Fire Rescue boat and the helicopter’s yellow flotation devices visible in the water. Paramedics were expected to transport the two survivors to a nearby hospital, though their conditions were not immediately known at the time of the initial report. The presence of the helicopter’s yellow floats in the water helped responders identify the craft involved in the crash.

WPEC reported that the Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office had assumed the investigation into the crash. At the time of the reporting, authorities had not released a determination on the cause of the crash, and further updates were being sought by CBS12 News. The initial information indicated a single-engine or small helicopter involved, but no specific aircraft model or operator was identified in the material provided.

Additional reporting from WPEC corroborated the basic details: two individuals were injured, and one person was believed to have died after the helicopter went into the water near Nixon Beach, off Crandon Boulevard southwest of Key Biscayne. The airport or heliport facilities in the area were not mentioned as part of the incident, and there was no indication of air traffic control involvement in the released material.

The investigation was described as being led by the Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office, with no cause of the crash released at that time. The materials did not specify whether the helicopter was commercially operated or a private craft, nor did they identify the operator or registration. The timeline placed the crash near 11:30 a.m. to 11:50 a.m., depending on the source within the reporting, as responders located the wreckage and the floats.

Video footage shown in the coverage illustrated responders working at the scene and a yellow tarp covering the person believed to have died in the crash, while paramedics prepared the two survivors for transport. The two survivors’ conditions were not disclosed in the material, and it was not stated whether they were conscious, unstable, or otherwise. The reporting did not specify the hospitals to which the survivors were transported.

The U.S. Coast Guard’s involvement was noted in relation to the initial reporting of the incident, though the material did not describe any Coast Guard rescue operations beyond acknowledging their status in confirming the event details. The Coast Guard’s role in the investigation or in coordinating with local authorities was not detailed in the provided material.

As the investigation continued, authorities did not release the cause of the crash or identify contributing factors. The material did not provide information on weather conditions, visibility, helicopter maintenance records, or any witness statements. No further updates were included beyond noting the ongoing investigation by the Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office and the expected forthcoming information.