UPDATE: Helicopter crash into South Kingstown pond under investigation

SOUTH KINGSTOWN, R.I. (WLNE) — Crews responded to a call for a helicopter crashing into Worden Pond around 9 a.m. Tuesday morning, and said the pilot and passenger were conducting sensor tests when the vehicle crashed.

A massive police and emergency response followed for the two individuals stuck in the water.

Jeff Codman, 54, the helicopter operator, was treated and released at the scene.

Amira Malik, the passenger, was transported to South County Hospital with minor injuries.

Both are employees of REGENT Craft, a North Kingstown sea glider manufacturer.

They were testing downward-facing sensors on the water at the time of the crash.

The helicopter is leased from Nantucket Helicopters, LLC.

The two had to climb on top of the helicopter to be rescued by boat.

Staff with the Department of Environmental Management on scene said the helicopter quickly sunk.

The two were picked up by Robert Buscher, 62, of South Kingstown, how was fishing on his boat in the pond.

Crews say they don’t respond to these sorts of calls often and were lucky to have help near the scene.

“A couple of weeks ago we had the plane off of Quonset and now this so it’s kind of a unique circumstance for us,” said Dean Hoxsie, Chief of the Rhode Island Environmental Police.

“And fortunately, there was a gentleman right there with a boat, fishing, and was able to get them off of the aircraft. They barely got wet and got them back to shore.”

The helicopter was fully submerged, and authorities says the owner and insurance company are working to get it removed while DEM deals with the minor hazmat issue.

The exact cause of the crash is still under investigation.