Helicopter Crashes Metres From Miami Beach Shore

A helicopter crash-landed in the sea off Miami Beach, mere metres from tourists and locals bobbing in the water.

It's reminiscent of beachgoers in Florida being left gobsmacked last year when a war plane was forced to make an emergency landing during an air show after its engine failed.

However, this was far more dramatic, with the helicopter plummeting from a great height and spinning before splashing down to the shock and awe of nearby sunbathers and swimmers.

The incident unfolded yesterday afternoon, February 19. Footage shared on Twitter by the Miami Beach Police shows the shore absolutely packed with people, before the helicopter comes into frame, falling from the sky into the sea.

'This afternoon at 1:10 p.m., MBPD received a call of a helicopter crash in the ocean near 10 Street. Police and @MiamiBeachFire responded to the scene along with several partner agencies... the beach area between 9 to 11 Street is currently closed. The FAA is responding to the scene,' the department wrote on Twitter.

According to the police, there were three passengers on board the helicopter at the time of the crash, but only two had to be taken to Jackson Memorial Hospital. While the extent of their injuries is unclear, they're both said to be in a stable condition.

The incredible footage has already amassed more than half a million views on social media. 'That’s me and George in the water next to it as it comes down,' one user claimed, adding, 'Well very scary — thought it was going to come down on us until we realised it was even closer to another group of people. Seemed like the pilot was doing his best to avoid the folks in the water.'

'It was a bit close to the public but in that moment pilot was just thinking what can I do to survive. Crashing in the water was smart and lives saved no deaths this is good news for a change,' another user wrote. 'Imagine being in that water watching it come down, wondering if you were about to be killed by a helicopter & nowhere to go to get away from it,' a third tweeted.

The helicopter is believed to be a Robinson R44, according to a statement from the FAA, as per CNN, and the circumstances surrounding the crash are 'unknown' at the time of writing. 'The FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board will investigate. The NTSB will be in charge of the investigation and will provide additional updates,' it added.

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