The Eyrie

MIAMI, FL — A small helicopter crashed into the water near Nixon Beach on Florida’s Atlantic coast Tuesday morning, killing one person and injuring two others, according to the U.S. Coast Guard. The crash happened near the 1200 block of Crandon Boulevard, southwest of Key Biscayne, with emergency crews responding to the scene soon after.

Video from WSVN’s 7Skyforce showed a Miami-Dade Fire Rescue boat in the area along with the helicopter’s yellow floats in the water. Later footage also showed a yellow tarp covering the person believed to have died in the crash. Paramedics were expected to take the two surviving passengers to a nearby hospital.

Coast Guard says the crash happened around late morning

The U.S. Coast Guard said the helicopter went down at about 11:30 a.m. EST. Officials did not immediately identify the aircraft or say how many people were on board before impact, but they confirmed the three people aboard were not all able to survive.

At the scene, rescuers worked from the water as investigators and emergency crews gathered near the shoreline. The aircraft’s yellow flotation devices were visible after the crash, indicating the helicopter was equipped for water landings or emergencies over the ocean.

Details about the sequence of events leading to the crash have not yet been made public. Authorities have not said whether weather, mechanical trouble or another factor may have played a role.

Miami-Dade first responders rushed to the water near Key Biscayne

Miami-Dade Fire Rescue was among the first agencies seen responding offshore. WSVN reported that one of its boats was on scene near the helicopter wreckage, helping coordinate the emergency response in the water.

The location near Nixon Beach and Crandon Boulevard placed the crash in a heavily visited stretch of shoreline just southwest of Key Biscayne. The area is close to residential neighborhoods, park land and popular recreation spots, which made the emergency response visible to people onshore.

Officials did not immediately say whether anyone on the beach witnessed the crash or whether the helicopter had been arriving, departing or passing through the area when it went down.

Two survivors were taken for hospital treatment

Authorities said two people survived the crash and were expected to be taken to a nearby hospital for treatment. Their conditions were not immediately known, and officials did not release information about their identities or the extent of their injuries.

The death of the third person was confirmed after video showed a tarp covering the body in the water. Emergency crews remained at the scene while the injured passengers were moved for medical care and the area was secured for the investigation.

No additional details were released Tuesday about the victims, including whether they were passengers, crew members or involved in any planned flight operations.

Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office takes over the investigation

The Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office has taken over the crash investigation, officials said. That usually means detectives and aviation investigators will gather witness accounts, examine wreckage and try to reconstruct what happened in the moments before the helicopter entered the water.

For now, the cause of the crash has not been released. Officials have not announced whether investigators will focus first on mechanical issues, pilot actions, weather conditions or a combination of factors.

Because the aircraft landed in the water, investigators are also likely to review recovery efforts and the helicopter’s flotation equipment as part of the broader inquiry.

Questions remain about the flight and the cause

Authorities have not said where the helicopter was coming from or where it was headed, and no flight details were immediately available. That leaves open basic questions about the aircraft’s route, purpose and operator.

For local residents and beachgoers, the crash turned a busy shoreline into an active emergency scene and drew a rapid response from marine and fire crews. Officials said more information could be released as the investigation continues.

Until then, the confirmed facts are limited: one person died, two others were injured, and the cause of the crash remains unknown.