Helicopter crashes offshore Saba

~~Adz:Right~~ THE BOTTOM, Saba – A privately-owned helicopter on a medical trip from St. Maarten crashed in the area of Saba’s airstrip on Tuesday October 21, killing the two passengers.

According to The Daily Herald, the helicopter had been called to the island on a “mercy mission” to fly out a critically ill patient seeking urgent medical attention in St. Maarten. The aircraft reportedly encountered technical problems shortly before taking a fatal plunge offshore the Juancho Yrausquin Airport.

Authorities reported that the two passengers, the pilot and co-pilot, were both killed in the crash. However, the identification of the individuals was not forthcoming.

The report also states that a group of Saba fishermen were immediately mobilized for a rescue mission and a St. Maarten-based Coast Guard vessel had been sent to Saba to spearhead the investigative exercise.

The Coast Guard and police of both St. Maarten and Saba are currently undertaking further investigations to ascertain the actual cause of the crash. In the meanwhile, the patient was subsequently transported to St. Maarten via boat.