A helicopter crash prompts the NTSB to remove wreckage from Biscayne Bay

BICAYNE BAY, Fla. (NBC, KYMA) - Salvage crews worked with the National Transportation Safety Board on Friday to remove the wreckage of a helicopter that crashed in Biscayne Bay on Wednesday morning.

The pilot, 63 year old Tomas Pendas died when the Robinson r44 ii helicopter crashed into Biscayne Bay off Key Biscayne, while on a trip to film boats on the water.

Two other men aboard the chopper, ages 52 and 27 years old, suffered minor injuries and are no longer hospitalized.

Officials say the focus now is determining what caused the deadly crash

NTSB officials said the Robinson r44 helicopter took off from north Perry airport in pembroke pines on Wednesday morning before going down about two miles west of key biscayne.

Nearby boaters called for help, and first responders with U.S. customs and border protection were able to pull the survivors from the water.

Pendas was able to activate the flotation devices on the helicopter.

Crews can now examine it and determine what went wrong.