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| Tributes for three Isle of Wight helicopter crash victims | Tributes for three Isle of Wight helicopter crash victims |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Justyna Czoska, Wojtek Kowalkowski and pilot Simon Hewitt (right) died in the crash on the Isle of Wight | Justyna Czoska, Wojtek Kowalkowski and pilot Simon Hewitt (right) died in the crash on the Isle of Wight |
| Tributes have been paid to three people who died in a helicopter crash on the Isle of Wight. | Tributes have been paid to three people who died in a helicopter crash on the Isle of Wight. |
| Justyna Czoska, 52, Wojciech Kowalkowski, 49, and 54-year-old pilot Simon Hewitt were killed when the aircraft came down near Shanklin on Monday morning. | Justyna Czoska, 52, Wojciech Kowalkowski, 49, and 54-year-old pilot Simon Hewitt were killed when the aircraft came down near Shanklin on Monday morning. |
| Ms Czoska's daughters and family said she was "our best friend", and Mr Kowalkowski's family said the father of two would be "deeply missed". | Ms Czoska's daughters and family said she was "our best friend", and Mr Kowalkowski's family said the father of two would be "deeply missed". |
| Mr Hewitt's partner and family said they were "absolutely broken", describing him as "the most wonderful, intelligent, kind man and father". | Mr Hewitt's partner and family said they were "absolutely broken", describing him as "the most wonderful, intelligent, kind man and father". |
| A fourth person in the helicopter, a man in his 30s, was airlifted to hospital after the crash. Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary said he was in a stable condition. | A fourth person in the helicopter, a man in his 30s, was airlifted to hospital after the crash. Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary said he was in a stable condition. |
| The Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) has started an investigation into what happened, but said it was likely to take 12 months. | The Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) has started an investigation into what happened, but said it was likely to take 12 months. |
| Ms Czoska and Mr Kowalkowski were both from Banbury in Oxfordshire, while Mr Hewitt was from Barton-upon-Humber in Lincolnshire. | |
| Drone footage shows view from above the crash site | Drone footage shows view from above the crash site |
| Ms Czoska's family described her as "beautiful, funny, talkative, optimistic and kind", and said she was "always wanting to make those around her happy". | Ms Czoska's family described her as "beautiful, funny, talkative, optimistic and kind", and said she was "always wanting to make those around her happy". |
| "She was our best friend, we miss the sound of her voice, we will miss her forever," they said. | "She was our best friend, we miss the sound of her voice, we will miss her forever," they said. |
| Mr Kowalkowski's family said he was "the father of two loving children", with Ms Czoska's daughter saying: "He always made me happy and always made my mum happy." | Mr Kowalkowski's family said he was "the father of two loving children", with Ms Czoska's daughter saying: "He always made me happy and always made my mum happy." |
| Mr Hewitt's family said he brought "so much joy and light into our lives". | Mr Hewitt's family said he brought "so much joy and light into our lives". |
| Northumbria Helicopters said in a statement that its "devoted pilot" Captain Simon Hewitt would be "truly missed". | |
| "[He] was not only an immensely respected member of our team, but also a truly wonderful family man, a much-loved friend and a highly regarded colleague," it added. | "[He] was not only an immensely respected member of our team, but also a truly wonderful family man, a much-loved friend and a highly regarded colleague," it added. |
| Ms Czoska and Mr Kowalkowski were both from Banbury in Oxfordshire | |
| In a post on Facebook earlier, Ms Czoska's daughter said: "I have no words, the world took my mum too soon." | In a post on Facebook earlier, Ms Czoska's daughter said: "I have no words, the world took my mum too soon." |
| A fundraiser for the family has been set up by Jacob Butler, who said his partner, Julia Buzar, lost her "beloved mum and her partner" in the tragedy. | A fundraiser for the family has been set up by Jacob Butler, who said his partner, Julia Buzar, lost her "beloved mum and her partner" in the tragedy. |
| In a post written in English and Polish, he said: "This sudden and devastating event has left all us heartbroken and struggling to cope with the loss. | In a post written in English and Polish, he said: "This sudden and devastating event has left all us heartbroken and struggling to cope with the loss. |
| "We are now trying to bring them both back to Poland so they can be laid to rest with their families, in the place they called home. | "We are now trying to bring them both back to Poland so they can be laid to rest with their families, in the place they called home. |
| "The cost of repatriation, funeral arrangements, and travel is more than we can manage alone, and we are asking for support during this incredibly difficult time." | "The cost of repatriation, funeral arrangements, and travel is more than we can manage alone, and we are asking for support during this incredibly difficult time." |
| Posting on Facebook, Ms 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. | Posting on Facebook, Ms 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'd be writing something like this. | "I never thought I'd be writing something like this. |
| "Please if anyone could help bring them back to Poland so they can be with there [sic] families it would mean the world to me.. Rest in peace mum and Wojtek." | "Please if anyone could help bring them back to Poland so they can be with there [sic] families it would mean the world to me.. Rest in peace mum and Wojtek." |
| The helicopter departed from Sandown Airport at approximately 09:00, Northumbria Helicopters said | |
| Ms Czoska had worked at Turpins Lodge Riding School in Hook Norton, Oxfordshire, since March 2024. | Ms Czoska had worked at Turpins Lodge Riding School in Hook Norton, Oxfordshire, since March 2024. |
| In a statement, the riding school said: "We are extremely sad to let everyone know that tragically Justyna our instructor was killed in a helicopter crash on the Isle of Wight yesterday. | In a statement, the riding school said: "We are extremely sad to let everyone know that tragically Justyna our instructor was killed in a helicopter crash on the Isle of Wight yesterday. |
| "Justyna was very well liked at Turpins Lodge by staff and by customers. | "Justyna was very well liked at Turpins Lodge by staff and by customers. |
| "Justyna was cheerful, reliable and conscientious. She will leave a huge hole to fill. | "Justyna was cheerful, reliable and conscientious. She will leave a huge hole to fill. |
| "Our thoughts go out to Justyna's daughters, family and friends. | "Our thoughts go out to Justyna's daughters, family and friends. |
| "We will endeavour to carry on as normally as possible but there may have to be some changes to lessons while we adapt to this very sad situation." | "We will endeavour to carry on as normally as possible but there may have to be some changes to lessons while we adapt to this very sad situation." |
| A spokesperson for the AAIB said earlier: "Our current focus is on gathering physical evidence from the accident site and interviewing witnesses. | A spokesperson for the AAIB said earlier: "Our current focus is on gathering physical evidence from the accident site and interviewing witnesses. |
| "The remains of the helicopter will then be recovered and transported back to our headquarters in Farnborough, Hampshire, for further detailed investigation." | "The remains of the helicopter will then be recovered and transported back to our headquarters in Farnborough, Hampshire, for further detailed investigation." |
| The wreckage was removed from the site on Tuesday. | The wreckage was removed from the site on Tuesday. |
| The remains of the helicopter were taken away on Tuesday | |
| Witnesses reported the aircraft spiralling before crashing in a field alongside the A3020 at 09:20 BST. | Witnesses reported the aircraft spiralling before crashing in a field alongside the A3020 at 09:20 BST. |
| A spokesman for operator Northumbria Helicopters said G-OCLV - a Robinson R44 II - had "departed from Sandown Airport at approximately 09:00, was carrying four passengers on board including the pilot, and was undertaking a flying lesson". | A spokesman for operator Northumbria Helicopters said G-OCLV - a Robinson R44 II - had "departed from Sandown Airport at approximately 09:00, was carrying four passengers on board including the pilot, and was undertaking a flying lesson". |
| You can follow BBC Hampshire & Isle of Wight on Facebook, X, or Instagram. | You can follow BBC Hampshire & Isle of Wight on Facebook, X, or Instagram. |