The Robinson R44 II went down near Key Biscayne during an apparent photography flight, leaving two survivors critically injured.
KEY BISCAYNE, FL — One man was killed and two others were critically injured Wednesday after a helicopter carrying three people crashed into Biscayne Bay near Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park, authorities said.
The Robinson R44 II went down late Wednesday morning near Key Biscayne. Preliminary information from the National Transportation Safety Board indicated the helicopter appeared to be on a photography flight. Miami-Dade Sheriff Rosie Cordero-Stutz said the aircraft was apparently being used to film boats on the water. The cause of the crash had not been determined, and federal investigators were examining what led the helicopter to go down.
The Federal Aviation Administration placed the crash at about 11:15 a.m., while Miami-Dade Fire Rescue said crews were dispatched at about 11:26 a.m. The U.S. Coast Guard said it and partner agencies responded at about 11:30 a.m. The crash occurred in the water near the Nixon Beach area, west of Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park.
Cordero-Stutz said Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office marine patrol deputies arrived to find a good Samaritan trying to save one adult man. Deputies took over the lifesaving effort and transported the man to No Name Harbor on Key Biscayne. Miami Fire Rescue personnel later pronounced him dead. Authorities had not publicly identified him as family notifications continued.
At about the same time, U.S. Customs and Border Protection air and marine officers located the other two men who had been aboard the helicopter, authorities said. The survivors were brought to No Name Harbor and transferred to emergency medical crews. They were later flown by Miami-Dade Fire Rescue to Jackson Memorial Hospital’s Ryder Trauma Center.
Cordero-Stutz said Wednesday afternoon that both survivors were in critical but stable condition. Officials had not released their identities. The Coast Guard, Miami-Dade Fire Rescue, City of Miami Fire Rescue and Key Biscayne Fire Rescue were among the agencies involved in the emergency response. Other local and state agencies also assisted at the scene.
Television footage showed the helicopter upside down beneath the water with yellow emergency flotation equipment attached near its landing skids. The Coast Guard established a safety zone around the crash area and urged boaters to use caution while authorities worked at the scene.
Flight-tracking information cited by local news outlets indicated the helicopter had departed North Perry Airport in Broward County before reaching Biscayne Bay. Federal aviation records identified the aircraft as a Robinson R44-series helicopter. Authorities had not announced who was operating the flight or released additional information about the occupants’ work beyond statements that the aircraft appeared to be filming or photographing boats.
The National Transportation Safety Board is leading the investigation into the crash, with the FAA also involved. Investigators are expected to examine the aircraft, flight information, weather conditions and other evidence before determining a probable cause. Officials had not said Wednesday that weather or any mechanical problem caused the crash, and no preliminary cause had been announced.
Authorities continued their investigation into the fatal crash as the two surviving occupants remained hospitalized. The identities of the three men and further details about the flight had not been released as of early Thursday.
Author note: Last updated Nov. 5, 2026.