This is the first picture of a couple killed in a helicopter crash on the Isle of Wight.
Horse riding instructor Justyna Czoska, 52, and lorry driver Wojtek Kowalkowski, 49, died when the helicopter came down in a field near Ventnor on the south of the island close to the seaside town of Shanklin at around 9.20am on Bank Holiday Monday.
The couple from Bloxham, Oxfordshire, had travelled to the island so Mr Kowalkowski could have a flying lesson for his birthday – something he had always dreamed of.
It had taken off from Sandown Airport 20 minutes earlier. One other person also died while a fourth was taken to hospital with serious injuries.
Miss Czoska’s daughter Julia Buzar, 22, spoke to her mother just moments before she boarded.
A short time later, police knocked on the door of her mother’s house where she was looking after her dog to tell her the helicopter had crashed.
Miss Buzar said the helicopter ride had been a birthday present to her stepfather Mr Kowalkowski. She said he had always wanted to fly in a helicopter.
She said: ‘We are heartbroken. It’s really hard as my mum was my only real family. It’s a terrible time.’
Miss Buzar’s partner Jacob Butler, who has set up a GoFundMe page to pay for the couple’s bodies to be taken back to their native Poland, said Ms Czoska was ‘an amazing woman’.
‘She was such a great person with a big heart,’ he said. ‘An amazing, kind loving person.’
Justyna Czoska, 52, and lorry driver Wojtek Kowalkowski, 49, right and far right, who were killed. Pictured with Ms Czoska’s daughter Julia who was not on board.
Members of the Air Accident Investigation Branch inspect the helicopter at the scene near Sandown, Isle of Wight today
A police and crime commissioner has shared her ‘deepest condolences’ to the families of three people who died in a helicopter crash on the Isle of Wight
He said Miss Buzar was ‘devastated’ struggling to come to terms with what had happened. He said all the family including Miss Buzar had ‘chipped in’ so Mr Kowalkowski could have a flying lesson.
Writing on GoFundMe, he added: ‘On August 25th, my partners beloved mum and her partner tragically lost their lives in a helicopter crash on the Isle of Wight.
‘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.
‘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.
‘Any donation, no matter how small, will help us give them the farewell they deserve. From the bottom of our hearts, thank you for your kindness, support, and for keeping our family in your thoughts.’
Miss Czoska was described as ‘the best mum you could ask for, loved by everyone’ by her daughter Julia.
The couple from Bloxham, Oxfordshire, had travelled to the island so Mr Kowalkowski could have a flying lesson – something he had always dreamed of
Horse riding instructor Justyna Czoska, 52, and lorry driver Wojtek Kowalkowski, 49, died when the helicopter came down in a field near Ventnor
Writing online, Miss 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 would be writing something like this. Please if anyone can help bring them back to Poland so they can be with their families it would mean the world to me.’
Ms Czoska had worked at Turpins Lodge Riding School in Hook Norton, Oxfordshire, since March 2024.
In a statement, the riding school said: ‘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.
‘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.’
The helicopter was today removed from the field on the Isle of Wight which it crashed into.
Images taken on Tuesday afternoon show authorities removing the chopper after its crash that caused three deaths.
A JCB telehandler lifted the aircraft up and onto a lorry before it was removed.
The Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) said the investigation into the crash was likely to take 12 months.
A spokesperson said: ‘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.’
Donna Jones, police and crime commissioner, descried it as a ‘heartbreaking day for the Isle of Wight’.
She also praised the emergency services for their swift response and said the devastating incident has ‘deeply shocked’ the community.
She said: ‘My deepest condolences go out to the families and loved ones of the three people who tragically lost their lives in the helicopter crash near Ventnor on the Isle of Wight this morning.
‘My thoughts are also with the fourth individual who remains in hospital in a critical condition.
‘This is a devastating incident that has deeply shocked the local community.. The families affected are being supported during this incredibly difficult time.
‘I want to thank all of our emergency services for their swift and dedicated response, including Hampshire & Isle of Wight Constabulary, the Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service, the Isle of Wight Ambulance Service, and hospital staff.
‘The Air Accidents Investigation Branch has now launched a formal investigation into the crash, and we await further details as they work to understand what happened.
‘This is a heartbreaking day for the Isle of Wight, and my thoughts remain firmly with everyone affected.’
The helicopter had taken off from Sandown Airport at around 9am before crashing around 20 minutes later.
Flight data suggests it climbed to an altitude of about 800 feet before an issue occurred.
From that point it was about 27 seconds before it hit the ground.
Hampshire Police confirmed in a statement on Monday that three of the four people on board had died.
Northumbria Helicopters, a firm based at Newcastle International Airport, confirmed one of its helicopters a G-OCLV – which is listed as a Robinson R44 II – was involved in the crash.
The firm offers pilot training, flying lessons starting from £199 for 20 minutes, as well as pleasure flights from its base in Newcastle.
It is understood the firm visits the island several times a year for pleasure flights and was last there at the end of July.
Eyewitness Leigh Goldsmith, who was driving her mother towards Shanklin, said she saw the helicopter ‘spiralling’ down to the ground before disappearing out of sight, ending up in a hedgerow.
She said there were four people in the helicopter, two in the front and two in the back. Ms Goldsmith called the emergency services.
Police, land ambulance, air ambulance and coastguard were all scrambled to the scene, near the A3020 Shanklin Road.
A Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary spokesman said a major incident was declared to co-ordinate the response.
Hampshire and Isle of Wight Air Ambulance said a critical care team consisting of a doctor and a specialist paramedic were deployed.
A spokeswoman for Hampshire and Isle of Wight Air Ambulance confirmed that one person had been airlifted to hospital.
She said: ‘We have treated and airlifted one patient to the major trauma centre, University Hospital Southampton. ‘Our thoughts are with them, and everyone involved in today’s incident.’
Isle of Wight East MP Joe Robertson described the crash as a ‘tragedy’.
Shanklin Town Council praised the pilot for bringing down the helicopter in a field away from houses.
‘Shanklin Town Council was shocked to hear about the incident involving a pleasure flight helicopter crash landing on the outskirts of the town,’ it said in a statement.
‘This bank holiday, as well as hosting the scooter rally on the island, has many organised events that run from Sandown airport.
‘One of those is the regular flights that give visitors the ability to view the coastline from the air.
‘This is a tragic accident and the pilot deserves huge credit for bringing down the helicopter in a field away from any built up areas.
‘Our thoughts and prays are with the individuals involved as well as their immediate families, not forgetting the quick action and professionalism of our emergency services.’
On Tuesday, the road next to the crash remained been cordoned off by police.
Investigators could be seen carrying out checks of the helicopter and turning one of the propellers.
Video footage released today shows the helicopter involved in the collision taking off from Sandown Airport on Sunday evening, the night before the crash.
Isle of Wight resident Vicky Cavanagh went on a helicopter experience with Northumbria Helicopters on Saturday and said she ‘could not fault’ the staff.
Ms Cavanagh, who was celebrating her 40th birthday, told BBC Solent: ‘My experience was amazing it was so professional, they were amazing, the safety briefings were great. It was just lovely, I loved it.
‘But yeah, this morning it hit home quite a bit, it was quite upsetting yesterday, I was quite emotional.
‘I know it is not about me but it hits home quite a lot.’
Ms Cavanagh continued: ‘We didn’t have to even put our own seatbelts on. They did it for us. The staff were amazing and they told us not to really speak to the pilot but he was pointing out things to us and saying here’s this.
‘Honestly it was such an amazing experience I just can’t imagine how scared they would have been because obviously people are scared of going in helicopters.
‘They told us what we could and couldn’t do and made it very clear to us and it was all done to us with pictures and writing and it was really professional and I can’t fault them to be honest. It was really great.’