Three people who died in a helicopter crash on the Isle of Wight on Monday have been named. The accident occurred at about 9.24am between Shanklin and Whiteley Bank, shortly after the helicopter took off from Sandown airport.
The victims were identified as Justyna Czoska, 52, a horse riding instructor, and her partner Wojtek Kowalkowski, 49, both from Bloxham, Oxfordshire. The third victim was Simon Hewitt, 54, from Barton-upon-Humber, Lincolnshire. A fourth man, aged in his 30s, was airlifted to hospital and remains in a stable condition.
Relatives have launched a fundraising appeal to repatriate the bodies of Ms Czoska and Mr Kowalkowski to Poland. A GoFundMe page set up by Jacob Butler, partner of Ms Czoska's daughter, states the funds will cover repatriation, funeral arrangements and travel. Ms Czoska's daughter, Julia Buzar, described her mother as "the best mum you could ask for" and requested help to bring them home.
Ms Czoska worked at Turpins Lodge riding school in Hook Norton, which paid tribute to her as "cheerful, reliable and conscientious". The helicopter was operated by Northumbria Helicopters, based at Newcastle airport. The Air Accidents Investigation Branch has launched a formal inquiry expected to take 12 months.
