The operators of a helicopter that crashed on the Isle of Wight, killing three people, have criticised the aircraft’s manufacturer for speculating that “pilot error” was to blame. Captain Simon Hewitt, horseriding instructor Justyna Czoska, 52, and her partner Wojciech Kowalkowski, 49, from Bloxham, Oxfordshire, died when the Robinson R44 II helicopter came down in a field near Shanklin on Monday morning during a flying lesson. A fourth passenger, a man in his 30s, was airlifted to hospital in Southampton.
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David Smith, chief executive of the Robinson Helicopter Company, told the BBC that “80%” of similar crashes were caused by “pilot error” and expressed condolences to the families of the victims. He added that the company did not have sufficient information to speak with certainty about this particular accident, emphasising the importance of a thorough investigation.
Northumbria Helicopters, based at Newcastle International Airport, issued a statement defending Hewitt’s expertise and urging restraint from speculation. They highlighted that pilot experience and qualifications are a major factor in such circumstances, noting that comparing amateur or student pilots with professional pilots like Hewitt shows the distinction. They said that implying fault before the Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) concludes its inquiry was premature, inaccurate, and insensitive to grieving families and colleagues.
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Hampshire Constabulary and the AAIB are investigating the crash alongside the coroner. A spokeswoman for the AAIB stressed that enquiries are ongoing and it is too early to speculate on the cause. Robinson Helicopter Company also reiterated its confidence in the authorities to examine all factors thoroughly, including the aircraft’s maintenance, the operator, pilot actions, and environmental conditions, before drawing any conclusions.
