Air-rescue helicopter crashes into Florida apartment building; 2 dead

A top fire medic and a female bystander were killed and four other people seriously injured when a rescue helicopter crashed into a Florida residential building Monday morning, authorities said.

Broward County Sheriff’s Office fire Capt. Terryson Jackson, 50, became trapped in the fiery wreckage when the chopper crashed in Pompano Beach on its way to a call in North Lauderdale, according to the Sun Sentinel. He died along with an unidentified female civilian on the ground, authorities said.

Two other crew members — including the 37-year-old pilot — were caught on video climbing from the wreckage onto the roof of the one-story building and to safety, the outlet said. 

“I thought a bomb went off,” said shaken building resident Victoria Walczak, who was home at the time, to the paper. “It looked like a war zone.”

She said police screamed for residents to leave their belongings behind and, “Get out! Get out! Get out!” 

Stricken Broward Sheriff’s Office Fire Chief Timothy Keffe  told reporters, “Our fallen captain, Terryson Jackson, 50, [had] been with [the] organization 19 years.

“In the crash he was trapped, could not get out, and we lost him,” the distraugt chief said. 

“This tragedy is really going to challenge us as a community,” Keffe said — adding that Jackson “perished doing what he loved.

“We are hurt but we are prepared to answer the next call. We are not going to lose focus, even though we are dealing with our own tragedy.”

The Airbus Helicopters EC 135T-1 smashed into the building a little after 8:45 a.m. in the area of North Dixie Highway and Atlantic Boulevard just south of the Pompano Beach Airpark, which is known for its Goodyear Blimp base. The chopper had taken off from the airfield, according to the paper.

Jackson said in a video released by the department in 2020 to commemorate Black History Month that he loved his job. 

“As a captain and flight paramedic for Broward Sheriff Fire Rescue, my position is to provide the highest level of pre-hospital care while swiftly delivering the patient to the most appropriate medical or trauma facility,” he said. 

“This career really chose me. I get to impact my community each and every day.”

Video posted online after Monday’s crash showed the helicopter descending in a wild tailspin as black smoke emanated from its tail.

Soon it was spiraling downward and crashed into the apartment building near Blanche Ely High School, according to the report.

Almost immediately after, the building and aircraft were completely engulfed in flames, witnesses told the paper.

Brian Piggotti, who was out for a walk at the time, said he saw the helicopter crash.

He told the outlet he watched the helicopter take off from the west side of the airpark, fly south and then nose-dive into the building.

It remains unclear what may have caused the crash, as the skies were reportedly clear at the time.

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