2023 Gold Coast mid-air collision

2023 Gold Coast mid-air collision
The aftermath of VH-XH9
Occurrence
Date2 January 2023; 2 years ago (2023-01-02), 1:59 pm AEST
SummaryMid-air collision due to faulty radio
SiteGold Coast Seaway, Queensland, Australia
27°57′41″S 153°25′23″E / 27.96139°S 153.42306°E / -27.96139; 153.42306
Total fatalities4
Total injuries8
Total survivors9
First aircraft
TypeEurocopter EC130
OperatorSea World Helicopters Pty Ltd
RegistrationVH-XH9
Flight originSea World, Queensland, Australia
DestinationSea World, Queensland, Australia
Occupants6
Passengers5
Crew1
Fatalities0
Injuries5
Survivors6
Second aircraft
TypeEurocopter EC130
OperatorSea World Helicopters Pty Ltd
RegistrationVH-XKQ
Flight originSea World, Queensland, Australia
DestinationSea World, Queensland, Australia
Occupants7
Passengers6
Crew1
Fatalities4
Injuries3
Survivors3

On 2 January 2023, two Eurocopter EC130s collided mid-air and crashed near Sea World theme park in the city of Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia. The collision killed four people and injured eight (three critically).[1][2][3][4]

Collision

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On 2 January 2023, at approximately 13:59  AEST,[1] two helicopters operated by Sea World Helicopters collided mid-air at about 130 feet above ground'[5] whilst one was attempting to land and the other departing from a helipad at Sea World theme park.[6] Both helicopters were undertaking tourist trips for park-goers along the Gold Coast Broadwater, although the operator is not associated with the theme park.[7]

Less than a minute after take-off, the departing helicopter (VH-XKQ)[8] collided with the arriving helicopter (VH-XH9).[8][9] This resulted in the departing helicopter’s main rotor blades and gearbox separating,[10] causing the helicopter to crash on a sandbar, killing four on board including the pilot and leaving three in critical condition.[7] The arriving helicopter was able to stabilise itself after the collision and successfully perform an emergency landing on the same sandbar with substantial damage.[8][10] All six on board survived without critical injury, with five of the six survivors on the arriving helicopter suffering minor glass shrapnel wounds from the shattered cockpit windshield.[11][12]

Many members of the public witnessed the collision, with beachgoers, boaters, and nearby police attending the scene to provide first aid and free injured passengers from the helicopter.[13][14]

All nine survivors were taken to hospital for further treatment: eight were transported to Gold Coast University Hospital and one was transported to Queensland Children’s Hospital.[1] The three critically injured survivors were on the departing helicopter and included a 33-year-old woman and her nine-year-old son, and a 10-year-old child.[7][15] The four who died were a 40-year-old pilot, a 36-year-old woman, and a British couple, aged 65 and 57.[7][15]

Sea World Helicopters Pty Ltd, the operator of the two helicopters involved, closed until further notice after the incident[6] and have since re-opened.

Wikinews has related news:

Investigation

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Queensland Police and the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) are investigating the collision. Investigators from ATSB offices in Brisbane and Canberra arrived the following day,[1] removing both aircraft from the sandbar and retrieving electronic recording equipment.[15]

External videos
video icon Footage from inside the arriving helicopter

A video of the arriving helicopter recorded by a passenger, which was aired by Seven News, shows a passenger pointing at the departing helicopter, tapping pilot Michael James on his shoulder and grabbing hold of his seat moments before the collision.[9] Footage from three lipstick cameras attached to the departing helicopter will also be examined by the ATSB.[9]

The flight paths of both aircraft (which eventually intersect)

Traces of cocaine were later found in the deceased pilot Ash Jenkinson's system. Experts claim it could lead to increased testing regulations.[16]

Final report

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On 9 April 2025, the final report of the collision was released by the ATSB. The final report found that a faulty radio antenna, and that large aircraft were some of the factors that contributed to the faults resulting in this collision.[17][18]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d Colasimone, Dan; Callinan, Rory (2 January 2023). "Four dead after two helicopters collide near Sea World on the Gold Coast". ABC News. Archived from the original on 3 January 2023. Retrieved 2 January 2023.
  2. ^ Cabral, Sam (2 January 2023). "Australia helicopter collision: Four dead in mid-air incident over Gold Coast". BBC News. Archived from the original on 3 January 2023. Retrieved 2 January 2023.
  3. ^ Marris, Sharon (2 January 2023). "Four dead after two helicopters collide in mid-air near Sea World theme park in Australia". Sky News. Archived from the original on 3 January 2023. Retrieved 2 January 2023.
  4. ^ Branco, Jorge (3 January 2023). "Race against the tide to retrieve chopper wreckage after deadly Gold Coast crash". Nine News (9News). Archived from the original on 3 January 2023. Retrieved 3 January 2023.
  5. ^ "Report outlines information about helicopter crash that killed British couple". 7 March 2023.
  6. ^ a b Roe, Isobel (4 January 2023). "Husband of Western Sydney woman who died in Gold Coast helicopter crash prays for injured son". ABC News. Archived from the original on 4 January 2023. Retrieved 4 January 2023.
  7. ^ a b c d Miles, Janelle; Callinan, Rory (3 January 2023). "Sea World helicopter collision could have been 'far worse' if not for 'remarkable' landing on sand bank, authorities say". ABC News. Archived from the original on 3 January 2023. Retrieved 3 January 2023.
  8. ^ a b c "Mid-air collision involving two helicopters near Main Beach, Gold Coast, Queensland, on 2 January 2023". Australian Transport Safety Bureau. Retrieved 3 January 2023.
  9. ^ a b c Utting, Alexandria; Hosier, Phoebe (5 January 2023). "Hours of video footage to be reviewed as part of fatal Gold Coast helicopter crash investigation". ABC News. Archived from the original on 5 January 2023. Retrieved 5 January 2023.
  10. ^ a b O’Flaherty, Antonia (3 January 2023). "What we know so far about Sea World helicopter crash on the Gold Coast". ABC News. Archived from the original on 3 January 2023. Retrieved 3 January 2023.
  11. ^ Clinton, Jane (3 January 2023). "Two Britons among four killed in Australia helicopter collision". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 3 January 2023. Retrieved 3 January 2023.
  12. ^ Block, George (4 January 2023). "Gold Coast helicopter collision: Kiwi witness reveals close call in horror crash". The New Zealand Herald. Archived from the original on 3 January 2023. Retrieved 4 January 2023.
  13. ^ Read, Cloe (2 January 2023). "'Unthinkable tragedy': Four dead after helicopters crash near Sea World". Brisbane Times. Archived from the original on 3 January 2023. Retrieved 2 January 2023.
  14. ^ Meilhan, Pierre; Yeung, Jessie (2 January 2023). "Four dead and several injured after two helicopters collide on Australia's Gold Coast". CNN. Archived from the original on 4 January 2023. Retrieved 2 January 2023.
  15. ^ a b c Taylor, Josh; Gillespie, Eden (3 January 2023). "Gold Coast helicopter crash: investigators to 'painstakingly' piece together events that left four dead". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 4 January 2023. Retrieved 3 January 2023.
  16. ^ Webster, Kirsten (2024-01-03). "Traces of cocaine found in Sea World Helicopters pilot's system after fatal crash could lead to increased testing regulations, expert says". ABC News. Retrieved 2024-01-23.
  17. ^ Watson, Katy (9 April 2025). "Faulty antenna played role in fatal Australian helicopter crash". BBC News. Archived from the original on 10 April 2025. Retrieved 10 April 2025.
  18. ^ "ATSB Gold Coast helicopter midair collision investigation highlights importance of multiple layers of defence in commercial aviation" (Press release). Australian Transport Safety Bureau. 9 April 2025. Archived from the original on 10 April 2025. Retrieved 10 April 2025 – via Australian Government.
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