Man killed in Key Biscayne helicopter crash was the pilot, sheriff says

Miami Herald · Milena Malaver · 2026-11-05 16:02 UTC

The pilot and owner of Global Aerials, Tomas Pendas, died in a Robinson R44 crash off Key Biscayne; NTSB and Miami-Dade investigate the fatal charter flight.

The man killed in a helicopter crash off Key Biscayne has been identified as the aircraft’s pilot and the registered owner of an aerial media and photography company based at North Perry Airport in Pembroke Pines, according to authorities and public records.

Wednesday’s crash into the water killed Tomas Pendas, 63, and seriously injured Ryan McCoy, 52, and Ryan Ferraro, 27, who were aboard the helicopter, which was on a chartered flight to film boats in the water, the Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office said on Thursday. McCoy and Ferraro have since been released from the hospital, the sheriff’s office said

The sheriff’s office is handling the death investigation. The NTSB is investigating the crash of a Robinson R44 II helicopter registered to Global Aerials Inc.

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