Helicopter pilot says he’s lucky to be alive after crashing near crowds off South Beach
The pilot who crashed his helicopter Saturday into the ocean off South Beach says he intentionally landed in shallow waters near the shore but away from beach crowds — a decision that allowed nearby swimmers to help rescue him and his two passengers.
Robert Arkin, a licensed commercial pilot who is also the president of a Miami Beach construction firm, said on Tuesday that he and his passengers, both of whom were taken to the hospital, were lucky to be alive. He noted that no one on the ground was injured when he crash-landed his Robinson R44 helicopter just feet away from the packed 10th Street beach about 1:20 p.m.
Bystanders sprung into action to try and help the passengers of the helicopter before paramedics arrived. First responders thanked them for helping keep the helicopter from sinking while rescue crews rushed the passengers to the hospital.
“Everyone survived!” Arkin told the Miami Herald in a private message on Facebook. “I saw a shallow spot with no people and flew the [helicopter] to that exact location.”
The helicopter appears to have departed from the Florida Keys and traveled north along the coast before it experienced “vibrations” and dropped out of the air, according to the National Transportation Safety Board.
Arkin’s wife, Rochelle Mussary Arkin, and attorney Morgan Geller were also injured, according to news reports. The crash landing was caught on surveillance footage.
Arkin did not respond to questions about what caused the crash or the nature of the flight.
In a Facebook post Tuesday, Arkin also said he sustained multiple spine fractures but was able to leave the hospital. The other two passengers remained in the hospital but in stable condition, he said.
“We were fortunate to walk away from this alive,” he wrote. “I wanted to thank each and every one of you individually who has reached out to extend their support and caring comments. We will be okay and thank god to fly another day. Love to you all!!”
A spokesman for the National Transportation Safety Board, which is investigating the crash, told the Miami Herald that officials believe the helicopter took off from Marathon and was flying north when it experienced vibrations. It landed in about 4 feet of water.
The helicopter has since been recovered and stored in a secure location while the investigation continues. A preliminary report is expected in about two weeks, and a final report identifying a probable cause is expected in 12-18 months.
Records show the helicopter is registered to a Broward County-based company called HD Aviation Services, which Arkin co-owns. Saturday’s flight was a personal trip, according to information released by the Federal Aviation Administration.
In its description of the crash, the FAA wrote that the “aircraft crashed in the water under unknown circumstances.”
This story was originally published February 22, 2022 at 5:53 PM.
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