A routine flight turned into a dramatic rescue mission in Sydney's southwest yesterday when a helicopter plunged into the Georges River, sparking a major emergency response.
Dramatic River Rescue
Emergency services raced to the scene near Bankstown Airport after receiving multiple reports of an aircraft crashing into the water. Witnesses described seeing the helicopter rapidly descending before hitting the river surface near the suburb of Milperra.
Two people were miraculously pulled from the wreckage by quick-thinking emergency crews who arrived within minutes of the incident occurring around midday.
Emergency Response
The rescue operation involved multiple agencies working in coordination:
- NSW Police Force divers
- Fire and Rescue NSW specialists
- NSW Ambulance paramedics
- Marine Area Command officers
Police divers entered the water to secure the aircraft while ambulance crews assessed the two occupants on the riverbank. Despite the dramatic nature of the crash, both individuals were reported to be in stable condition.
Investigation Underway
Authorities have launched a full investigation into the circumstances surrounding the crash. The Australian Transport Safety Bureau has been notified and is expected to examine the wreckage to determine what caused the helicopter to come down.
"This could have been an absolute tragedy," one emergency responder commented. "The fact that both occupants survived with relatively minor injuries is nothing short of miraculous given the circumstances."
Witness Accounts
Local residents reported hearing unusual sounds from the aircraft before seeing it descend rapidly toward the water. One fisherman on the riverbank described the moment the helicopter hit the surface.
"It happened so quickly," he said. "One minute it was in the air, the next there was a splash and it was in the water. The emergency services response was incredible - they were here within minutes."
The crash site has been secured as investigations continue, with aviation authorities working to recover the aircraft from the river.
