Couple killed in Isle of Wight helicopter crash pictured as family share heartbreak

The couple were taking a flying lesson on the helicopter which crashed just 20 minutes after boarding A couple killed in a helicopter crash on the Isle of Wight[1] have been pictured for the first time since the incident. Lorry driver Wojtek Kowalkowski, 49, and horse riding instructor Justyna Czoska, 52, died when the helicopter crashed in a field near Ventnor, close to the seaside[2] town of Shanklin.

Emergency services were called to the field, near the A3020 Shanklin Road, at around 9.20am on Monday morning. A third person also killed in the crash has not yet been named.

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The pair from Bloxham, Oxfordshire,[3] had taken off from Sandown Airport just 20 minutes earlier so that Mr Kowalski could take a flying lesson, which he had always dreamed of doing.

Miss Czoska's daughter Julia Buzar, 22, had spoken to her mother moments before she boarded and was looking after her dog when police visited to inform her of the crash. Jacob Butler, Miss Buzar's partner, has since started a GoFundMe page[4] to pay for the couple's bodies to be returned to their home country of Poland, adding that Ms Czoska was "an amazing woman". He told the Daily Mail: "She was such a great person with a big heart.

"An amazing, kind loving person." He added that Miss Buzar was "devastated" and that all the family had "chipped in" so that Mr Kowalkowski could have the flying lesson. Miss Buzar shared the fundraiser in a Facebook post, saying: "Writing online, Miss Buzar said: '"I have no words.

The world took my mum too soon, she was the best mum you could ask for, loved by everyone. "I never thought I would be writing something like this. Please if anyone can help bring them back to Poland so they can be with their families it would mean the world to me."

Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary confirmed the deaths of the three individuals and said a fourth person is in hospital in a serious condition. It said in a statment: "At this time we are unable to provide further information about the people involved, as efforts continue to contact and support their families." The force added it "will not be commenting on the circumstances of the incident" but it will "continue to work alongside" the Air Accident Investigation Branch, an organisation that investigates civil aircraft accidents, with a formal investigation having been launched.

Witness Leigh Goldsmith told the Isle of Wight County Press she was driving towards Shanklin when she saw the helicopter "spiralling" before going out of sight and coming down in a hedge. She said she was the first on the scene and saw there were four people on board, and she believed the airbags had been activated. Images from the scene showed what appeared to be yellow air bags underneath the wreckage of the silver helicopter.

Flight data suggests that the helicopter climbed to an altitude of about 800 feet before an issue occurred, taking 27 seconds to hit the ground. Operator Northumbria Helicopters said a G-OCLV, listed as a Robinson R44 II, was involved in the crash and it was giving its full cooperation to the authorities following the incident. Police and crime commissioner Donna Jones said that Monday was a "heartbreaking day for the Isle of Wight" and that her thoughts remain firmly with everyone affected.

She said: "This is a devastating incident that has deeply shocked the local community. The families affected are being supported during this incredibly difficult time. "I want to thank all of our emergency services for their swift and dedicated response, including Hampshire & Isle of Wight Constabulary, the Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service, the Isle of Wight Ambulance Service, and hospital staff."

Isle of Wight East MP Joe Robertson described the news as "tragic" and said his heart goes out to the families of those who lost their lives. Shanklin Town Council said it was "shocked" to hear about the incident, adding that flights regularly run from Sandown Airport to allow visitors to view the area's coastline. It said: "This is a tragic accident and the pilot deserves huge credit for bringing down the helicopter in a field away from any built up areas.

"Our thoughts and prays are with the individuals involved as well as their immediate families, not forgetting the quick action and professionalism of our emergency services."

This is a breaking news story and will be updated.

References

1. ^ helicopter crash on the Isle of Wight (inews.co.uk)
2. ^ seaside (inews.co.uk)
3. ^ Oxfordshire, (inews.co.uk)
4. ^ has since started a GoFundMe page (www.gofundme.com)