A rescue chopper collided with a residential structure in Florida on Monday morning, killing a top fire medic and a female eyewitness, with four others being badly injured.
According to the Sun Sentinel, the helicopter crashed at Pompano Beach while its route to a call in North Lauderdale, trapping fire captain Terryson Jackson, 50, of the Broward County Sheriff’s Office within the burning debris. Authorities reported that he passed away alongside an unnamed female civilian on the ground.
The outlet stated that two additional crew members, including the 37-year-old pilot, were seen on camera scrambling from the debris onto the roof of the one-story structure and to safety.
Fire Chief Timothy Keffe of the stricken Broward Sheriff’s Office stated that Jackson, the deceased captain, had been with the organization for 19 years.
He also added that this tragedy is going to be challenging. However, they affirmed that they will not lose focus despite their sorrow.
Captain Jackson expressed his enthusiasm for his work in a video the department produced in 2020 to honor Black History Month.
As a flight paramedic and captain for the Broward Sheriff Fire Rescue, he explained that his job is to provide the best pre-hospital care while quickly transporting the patient to the most appropriate medical or trauma facility. He also added that he did not choose the said career, and it’s the other way around, impacting society daily.
The Airbus Helicopters EC 135T-1 crashed into a building on North Dixie Highway and Atlantic Boulevard, close to the Pompano Beach Airpark, famous for housing the Goodyear Blimp base.
Black smoke could be seen coming from the helicopter’s tail as it dropped in a frantic tailspin, as shown in the footage.
It soon began to swirl downward until colliding with the apartment building close to Blanche Ely High School.
Witnesses reported seeing the building and aircraft entirely engulfed in flames.
At the time, Brian Piggotti, who was out on a stroll, claimed to have witnessed how the helicopter took off from the airpark’s west side, flew south, and then crashed into the apartment.
It is still unknown what may have caused it, given that the skies were evident at the time of the accident.
