Names of victims in Biscayne Bay helicopter crash released by MDSO

Federal officials are investigating a deadly helicopter crash two miles west of Key Biscayne that occurred Wednesday morning during a speedboat event photo shoot.

The Miami-Dade Sheriff's Office has identified the pilot killed in the crash as Tomas Pendas, 63.

Ryan McCoy, 52, and Ryan Ferraro, 27, were identified as the men who were injured in the crash. Deputies said they sustained minor injuries in the crash and have since been released from a Miami hospital.

The Robinson R44 helicopter, operated by Global Air Group, departed North Perry Airport at 10:10 a.m. and then sent a mayday distress call to MDSO at 11:20 a.m., according to Gene Rambo, an air safety investigator with the National Transportation Safety Board. Rambo said the helicopter did not land anywhere else prior to the crash.

Rambo was joined at a news conference by Aaron McCarter, a senior safety investigator with the Federal Aviation Administration.

"Our heartfelt condolences go out to the people injured and affected by the accident," Rambo said.

When marine units arrived at the scene, first responders said they found a Good Samaritan on a boat who was providing CPR to Pendas. The Marine Patrol units took over lifesaving efforts and took Pendas to the dock at No Name Harbor.

City of Miami Rescue then arrived at the scene. Despite lifesaving efforts, Pendas was pronounced dead at the scene.

While MDSO was trying to help Pendas, U.S. Customs and Border Protection Air and Marine Operations found the other two victims from the helicopter and transported them to the dock at No Name Harbor.

Miami-Dade Fire Rescue units airlifted both McCoy and Ferraro to a Miami hospital in critical but stable condition. They have since been released from the hospital.

"What investigators are looking at is man, machinery, and the environment. Regarding the human part, we are reviewing the records. We are looking at medical records, and we are looking at the man and the helicopter and what was recovered and looking at the wreckage itself," Rambo said.

They are also evaluating weather conditions, assessing operational pressures, and examining requirements specific to the photo shoot for the "Poker Run" speedboat event.

Helicopter company touted 20-year safety record before deadly crash

The helicopter was owned by tourhelicopter.com, an air tour company based out of North Perry. The company did not comment Thursday about the crash.

On its website, the company bills itself as South Florida's largest and longest-running air tour company, with a "perfect 20-year safety record."

The R44 is made by Robinson Helicopter Co. in California. It is a lightweight, relatively inexpensive helicopter that is widely used for flight training, police patrols, and sightseeing.

An R44 also crashed at North Perry Airport about five months ago, overturning during takeoff and injuring the pilot and three passengers. That tour operator is based next to the company's headquarters.

Pablo Rojas, a Coral Gables aviation attorney who has sued Robinson, said the R44 has drawn criticism.

"Unfortunately, both governments and journalists have found this is one of the most dangerous helicopters out there," Rojas said. "The Robinson is uniquely sensitive and susceptible to a loss of control."

When contacted, Robinson issued the following statement to CBS News Miami:

"We at Robinson are deeply saddened by the tragic helicopter crash in Florida this week. Our thoughts are with the families and friends of the individual who lost their life.

While we understand there are many questions about what caused this accident, we do not have enough information to speak with any certainty at this time.

We have full confidence in the authorities who are investigating this incident. They will thoroughly examine all factors, including the aircraft's maintenance history, the operator, the pilot's actions, weather, and other environmental conditions leading to the crash. We believe their investigation will provide the clarity and closure needed for the families affected by this terrible event.

[The R44] is the best-selling light civil helicopter in the world, with more in operation by small commercial operators and individual owners than any other helicopter.

The sheer number of them, used by small operators, makes them more likely to be used by small businesses for aerial photography, tourism, agriculture, mosquito management, and other highly missionized jobs.

Over the last several years, we have taken strategic steps to integrate safety into every stage of the helicopter's lifecycle:

• Engineering and Technology: We modernized aircraft aerodynamics and are the only manufacturer to provide 4K cockpit cameras as standard across our entire fleet to support flight data analysis. In the last few years, we have also incorporated impact-resistant windshields and autopilot features to enhance pilot safety.
• Training Access: We have added three new and dozens more flight safety courses at our factory and worldwide to ensure high training standards are accessible to all pilots.
• Training Enforcement: We actively participate in international safety forums and strictly enforce recurrent training and the use of advanced safety techniques across the Robinson network.

These efforts have led to 2025 being the safest year in our company's history, with accident rates that outperformed the broader aviation industry. We remain committed to providing the tools, training, and technology necessary to support everyone who flies Robinson aircraft.

Until the investigation is complete, we cannot comment on this particular situation."

Crews are working to recover the aircraft from the water

Crews are working to retrieve the aircraft from the water so it can be moved to a safe location for detailed examination.

"We are trying to do as little damage as possible in the recovery," Rambo said. "It is very difficult pulling something out of the water."

Multiple agencies responded to the scene, including marine patrol and fire rescue units from Miami-Dade, the City of Miami, Coral Gables, Key Biscayne, and U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

MDSO is seeking information to identify the Good Samaritan who attempted to save the pilot's life and encourages the individual, or anyone who knows his identity, to contact authorities.

The NTSB urges any witnesses to contact investigators at witness@ntsb.gov.