Families Mourn Victims of Isle of Wight Helicopter Crash
Grief and tributes have poured in following the tragic helicopter crash on the Isle of Wight that claimed the lives of three people during a flying lesson on August 25, 2025.
The Robinson R44 II helicopter, operated by Northumbria Helicopters, came down near Shanklin shortly after taking off from Sandown Airport. Among the victims were Justyna Czoska, 52, her partner Wojtek Kowalkowski, 49, and experienced pilot Simon Hewitt, 54. A fourth passenger, a man in his 30s, miraculously survived but remains in hospital in serious condition.
Remembering Justyna and Wojtek
Justyna, a much-loved horse-riding instructor, was remembered by her daughter Julia Buzar as “beautiful, funny, talkative and kind,” someone who “always wanted to make those around her happy.” Julia, 22, said losing her mother has left her “without words,” adding: “She was the best mum you could ask for, loved by everyone.”
Wojtek, a father of two and lorry driver, was described as a warm-hearted man who brought joy to those around him. Julia paid tribute to the bond he shared with her mother: “He always made me happy and always made my mum happy. He helped and was a heart-filled person.”
The couple’s family have since launched a fundraising campaign to repatriate their bodies to Poland for burial.
A Tribute to the Pilot
Pilot Simon Hewitt, who was leading the flying lesson, was remembered as an “intelligent, kind, and joyful” man by his family. A skilled aviator and father, he was said to have “brought light into the lives of those around him.”
Community Support and Investigation
The Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) has opened a formal inquiry into the cause of the crash. Meanwhile, the Isle of Wight community has rallied around the victims’ families, offering condolences and support as they face an unimaginable loss.
For Julia and her loved ones, the priority now is to ensure Justyna and Wojtek are laid to rest in their homeland. The fundraising page set up in their memory has already received donations from friends, relatives, and members of the public touched by the tragedy.
#RIP #GoneTooSoon #InLovingMemory #Family #CommunitySupport
