Pictured: Australian grandmother killed in a helicopter crash in Hawaii after the chopper spun out of control and burst into flames as it crashed into a residential street
- Grandmother Jan Burgess one of three people killed in Hawaii helicopter crash
- The aircraft exploded into a ball of flames as it fell to the ground, witnesses said
- Joseph Berridge, 28, has been identified as the pilot who was killed in crash
- The medical examiner's office confirmed Ryan McAuliffe, 28, from Chicago, died
An Australian woman killed in a helicopter crash in Hawaii has been revealed to be a loving grandmother.
Jan Burgess was one of three people who lost their lives after the helicopter spun out of control and crashed nose-first into a road at Kailua, about a 30 minute drive from Honolulu on Monday.
Female passenger Ryan McAuliffe, 28, and pilot, Joseph Berridge, 28, have been named as the other two victims.
The Burgess family released a statement on Wednesday to say their grandmother - who was endearingly called Jammie - was holidaying at the time.
'Jammie was on holiday with other family members when she was involved in this tragic incident,' the statement read.
'We are trying to understand and deal with the sudden loss at this time and we request that our extended families privacy is respected during this process.'
Jan Burgess was one of three people killed in the tragic accident outside Honolulu on Monday morning
A helicopter nosedived into Oneawa St in Kailua, Hawaii killing two passengers and the pilot on Monday morning
Ms Burgess has been remembered as a loving mother, grandmother, great grandmother, aunt and friend.
Her relatives said the focus was to now reunite 'all of our family home in Australia so that we can assist each other with remembering and celebrating Jammie in the manner that she deserves'.
The family also thanked the efforts of rescue crews and locals who tried to save their relative during the tragic accident.
'We would like to recognise the brave and selfless efforts of the local community who rushed to this accident scene to assist those that were injured and also the response from the local emergency services.'
The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade have offered consular assistance to the family.
Share this article
The grieving family of Joseph Berridge earlier revealed the pilot had only just moved to Hawaii from New Mexico 20 days ago and was fulfilling his dream of flying tours.
'It was always my son's dream to go to Hawaii and fly tours for a couple of years,' the pilot's father, Bobby Berridge told the Star Advertiser.
He said Joseph's girlfriend had been planning to move to the state to join him.
The aircraft, which was a four-seat Robinson R44, came down on Oneawa Street at about 9am local time.
According to the FAA, the chopper was owned by a helicopter tour company, Novictor Helicopters.
Family members identified the pilot as 28-year-old Joseph Berridge (pictured). Relatives said Berridge had just moved to Hawaii 20 days ago and loved to fly
The young pilot had moved from New Mexico to fly tours in the island for a few years, the family said
Witnesses claimed they saw the helicopter plummet to the ground and then explode into a ball of flames.
Construction worker Darel Robinson said he was at a job site, about a kilometre away from the crash site, when the accident happened.
'It was going nose down and parts were starting to fly off,' he told 9News.
Leleo Knappenberger told Hawaii News Now that his mother heard the helicopter flying over the house, making a strange noise. He said the aircraft was 'all smashed to pieces.'
Witness Mike Cunningham, who was driving when helicopter crashed onto the road, said he saw it come down 'very hard, nose first.'
'I don't see how anybody could’ve walked away from it,' he told the news outlet.
'It was in flames immediately. And you couldn't get close to it.'
The aircraft 'smashed into pieces' as it plummeted to the ground and wreckage landed in people's gardens, (pictured)
Wreckage from the aircraft can be seen on Oneawa Street with debris landing in peoples' gardens
Drivers and nearby residents also rushed to the site in the hope that someone on board had survived.
Some homeowners pulled out garden hoses to start to put out the blaze as wreckage landed in some of their gardens nearby.
'I just wanted to make sure I could do whatever I could to help someone if they needed help,' said witness Tehani Alo.
She said she saw the helicopter spinning out of control before it came crashing down. 'It sounded like hell landing,' she said.
A body is seen being taken away from the crash site as three people were believed to have been on board the helicopter when it plummeted to the ground
Comments 0
Share what you think
No comments have so far been submitted. Why not be the first to send us your thoughts, or debate this issue live on our message boards.
