A fatal midair crash in Australia claimed the lives of four individuals, including a British couple. In January, two helicopters operated by Sea World Helicopters were engaged in an accident that occurred off the Gold Coast.
According to an interim accident assessment issued by the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB), it is possible that the pilot of one helicopter did not hear a radio communication from the other helicopter just before it crashed. While the pilots may not have been able to see each other, the report suggests that they may not have issued a conventional taxiing call, thereby signalling their departure plans.
Ron and Diane Hughes from Cheshire, who were on vacation in Queensland at the time, were among the victims. Vanessa Tadros, 36, an Australian mother whose 10-year-old son survived the disaster but was severely injured, was another victim. The fourth victim was Ashley Jenkinson, a 40-year-old pilot with local ties who was supposedly of English descent.
Later, footage emerged of a passenger attempting to alert the pilot that another helicopter was approaching, but according to the ATSB, this does not indicate that the other helicopter was visible to either pilot. The ATSB will conduct a comprehensive study of radio transmissions at the time of the accident.
On January 17, 2021, a fatal mid-air collision in Australia resulted in the deaths of four individuals, including a British couple. Ron and Diane Hughes from Cheshire were on vacation in Queensland when the accident occurred. Vanessa Tadros, a 36-year-old Australian mother whose 10-year-old son survived but was severely injured, was another victim. The fourth death was Ashley Jenkinson, 40, an accomplished pilot who apparently hailed from England and resided in the vicinity.
Two Sea World Helicopters sightseeing helicopters were involved in the accident, which occurred off the Gold Coast. According to an interim accident assessment issued by the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB), the pilot of one helicopter may not have heard a radio communication from the other helicopter before it crashed. The pilots may not have been able to see each other, and it is believed that a routine taxiing call, which announces their intention to depart, may not have been made.
Later, footage emerged of a passenger attempting to alert the pilot that another helicopter was approaching, but according to the ATSB, this does not indicate that the other helicopter was visible to either pilot. The ATSB will conduct a comprehensive study of radio transmissions at the time of the accident.
The incident serves as a reminder of how rapidly aircraft catastrophes may occur and emphasises the significance of implementing safety measures to prevent such tragedies. Our thoughts are with the victims of this tragedy.
