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June 5, Indiantown, Fla. / Robinson R22

At 13:01 eastern time, a Robinson R22 Beta helicopter crashed after an attempted prison break when it struck trees shortly after takeoff from the Martin County Treatment Center. The student-rated pilot and the prisoner he attempted to free were not injured in the crash and were apprehended the next day. The student was receiving instruction from a flight school in Fort Lauderdale and had been signed off for a solo flight from Fort Lauderdale to Pahokee, Fla., and Stuart, Fla. However, he diverted to the prison and hovered over the facilitys recreation yard while the prisoner climbed aboard....

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Key Takeaways:

  • A student-rated pilot crashed a Robinson R22 Beta helicopter during an attempted prison break at the Martin County Treatment Center.
  • The helicopter struck trees shortly after the pilot picked up a prisoner from the facility's recreation yard.
  • Neither the student pilot nor the prisoner were injured in the crash, and both were apprehended the following day.
See a mistake? Contact us.

At 13:01 eastern time, a Robinson R22 Beta helicopter crashed after an attempted prison break when it struck trees shortly after takeoff from the Martin County Treatment Center. The student-rated pilot and the prisoner he attempted to free were not injured in the crash and were apprehended the next day. The student was receiving instruction from a flight school in Fort Lauderdale and had been signed off for a solo flight from Fort Lauderdale to Pahokee, Fla., and Stuart, Fla. However, he diverted to the prison and hovered over the facilitys recreation yard while the prisoner climbed aboard.

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