Jeff Bezos Survived a Helicopter Crash

In March 2003, Bezos and two other passengers narrowly escaped a helicopter crash in Texas. A pilot and three passengers aboard were taking off from a remote site in the mountainous terrain of West Texas when the chopper's tail boom struck a tree. The impact caused the aircraft to roll onto its side - and partially submerge it in a creek. All three passengers received “non-life-threatening injuries” and were transported to a hospital.

According to the Federal Aviation Administration, at the time, the passengers on the flight were evaluating "real estate from the air for land purchase." The passengers on board were Elizabeth Korrell of Seattle - who suffered spinal compressions for which she was treated and released from an area hospital - as well as Ty Holland of Fort Davis, Texas and pilot Charles Bella, who both suffered minor injuries, CNN reported at the time. At the time, an Amazon spokesperson commented on the crash saying, "Jeff is fine and it's business as usual."

Bezos, his attorney, guide Ty Holland and pilot Charles Bella were involved in a serious helicopter crash in west Texas after the wind blew the helicopter off course. The helicopter was partially filled with water after landing upside-down in a creek. Bella, Bezos, and Holland all escaped the wreck with only minor injuries. However, Bezos’ attorney, Elizabeth Korrell, suffered a broken vertebra from the accident. “Avoid helicopters whenever possible,” Bezos told Fast Company in 2004. “They’re not as reliable as fixed-wing aircraft.”