SHAW ISLAND — A retired spinal surgeon and his wife managed to survive their helicopter’s crash into the waters of northwest Washington’s San Juan Islands with just a couple of bruises. Dr. John Brantigan and his wife, Carolyn, of Shaw Island told KING-TV they’re both pilots and fly together often.
On Tuesday’s flight, Brantigan says his wife accidentally pulled the “mixture control” knob and that caused the chopper’s engine to shut off. The helicopter plummeted about 300 feet to the water and flipped upside down. Still, they were able to release their seatbelts and climb onto the overturned aircraft. They say their neighbors on nearby Bell Island jumped into a boat and brought them to shore.
The helicopter was being towed back to land.
Information from: KING-TV, www.king5.com/
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