The Air Accident Investigation Branch has concluded its on-scene investigations at the site of Monday’s fatal helicopter crash near Shanklin, but it could be a year before a report is published on what exactly happened.
Over the past 3 days, specialist investigators have been working to piece together the events that led to the Bank Holiday tragedy, which claimed the lives of 3 people and seriously injured another. The chopper came down on the A3020 Shanklin Road, around a mile-and-a-half from Sandown Airport.
54-year-old Captain Simon Hewitt, 52-year-old Justyna Czoska and 49-year-old Wojtek Kowalkowski all died when the Robinson R44 helicopter they were flying in crashed into the ground. First responders pulled the casualties from the wreckage and began CPR, but nothing could be done.
The fourth person involved, a man in his 30s, was flown to Southampton’s Major Trauma Centre after medics from Hampshire & Isle of Wight Air Ambulance spent 2 hours on the ground stabilising him.
The AAIB says that it could take up to 12 months for a full report into the accident to be published. In the meantime, it is expected that inquests into the 3 deaths will be opened and adjourned by Senior Coroner Caroline Sumeray in the next few weeks.
Incident Timeline
Monday (*approx.)
- 09:20* – Distress beacon activates and alerts the Royal Air Force to an incident
- 09:24 – Police receive reports of a helicopter crashing into a field near the A3020
- 09:28 -Helimed 56 dispatched from Thruxton Airport
- 09:36 – Island Echo first informed of an incident on Shanklin Road
- 09:47 – Major incident declared
- 09:50* – Helimed 56 and Coastguard Rescue 175 land at the crash scene
- 09:59 – Island Echo first reports there has been a helicopter crash
- 10:26 – 3 fatalities known
- 10:41 – Police issue first statement on the incident
- 11:07 – National media begin to run breaking news on the crash
- 11:43 – Helimed 56 airlifts a seriously injured passenger to Southampton General Hospital
- 15:01 – Confirmation Major Incident stood down
- 17:04 – Police officially confirm the death of 3 people and injuries to a fourth
- 21:39 – Police & Crime Commissioner Donna Jones and Joe Robertson MP pay tribute
Tuesday
- 11:40 – 52-year-old Justyna Czoska and 49-year-old Wojtek Kowalkowski named as couple killed in crash
- 14:00* – Helicopter recovered onto recovery lorry by Air Accident Investigation Branch
- 18:57 – Police officially name all 3 people killed, including 54-year-old Captain Simon Hewitt
- 20:33 – Northumbria Helicopters issues statement on tragic incident
The A3020 Shanklin Road has now reopened in both directions between Whiteley Bank and Apse Manor Road.
