Editor’s note: This article has been updated with the latest information about the helicopter crash.
Footage shared Monday shows the moment a Broward Sheriff’s Office (BSO) Fire Rescue helicopter crashed into an apartment building in Pompano Beach, Florida.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) confirmed the EC135 helicopter crashed near Fort Lauderdale shortly after 8:45 a.m. Monday with three people on board, according to local outlet WPLG. One person onboard the helicopter died, and an individual on the ground was also killed in the crash, the outlet reported.
The four individuals taken to the hospital were listed in fair condition, BSO spokesperson Veda Coleman-Wright confirmed to the outlet later Monday.
BSO captain Terryson Jackson was killed in the incident, according to WPLG. The 50-year-old had been with BSO for 19 years. Authorities have not yet released the name of the deceased woman who was inside the apartment building when the crash occurred. BSO members and helicopter passengers Daron Roche and Mikael “Mike” Chaguaceda were able to extricate themselves from the crash site and survived, according to WPLG.
Broward County Aviation Department EC-135 helicopter over Pompano Beach, Florida this morning experienced a inflight fire. 🙏 (🎥 Buck Daily) via @CamMill06830348 pic.twitter.com/LNUARzkM9l
— Thenewarea51 (@thenewarea51) August 28, 2023
Footage shows smoke billowing from the helicopter as it flies over homes and businesses before seemingly igniting further towards the tail end of the machine. From here, the vehicle can be seen spinning out of control, with the tail appearing to snap off entirely as the rest of the body crashes down towards the building.
Breaking Helicopter Crash Pompano Beach Florida
Broward Sheriff’s office released official statement about the crash
Read more here: https://t.co/jZNCEWAhnI pic.twitter.com/KkqYjRPPHh
— Newstongue (@newstongue) August 28, 2023
Videos shared later show the roof of the apartment building on fire following the crash. It appears the helicopter hit a single-story home, which was subsequently engulfed in flames. ABC News also shared a livestream of the scene. (RELATED: Two People Survive Helicopter Crash Into Indiana Lake)
The BSO helicopter was responding to a local emergency when the incident occurred, Broward Sheriff Gregory Tony said, according to WPLG.
“They were ‘mayday’ and putting out the distress within two minutes, and throughout that time they still had the foresight to notify the local fire department that we weren’t going to be able to land and that they needed to be able to get there and rescue these people,” Tony said. “So we’re talking about the character of these men and women — or these men in this case, on this aviation unit — as they were fighting for their life, they were worried about someone else’s.”