Four dead as two helicopters collide mid-air in Australia

Asia-Pacific, News January 3, 2023 , by IRIA No Comments

Four people died while several sustained severe injuries after two helicopters collided mid-air in Australia’s Gold Coast. Local authorities reported that the accident occurred when one helicopter was landing while the other one was taking off.

The two aircraft were set to fly carrying tourists at the strip known as Main Beach, about 75 kilometers south of Brisbane. Thirteen people were on board the two helicopters. One of the helicopters suffered a severe crash.

All four people who died during the accident were on board the same helicopter while passengers from the other aircraft suffered critical injuries, however, the pilots managed to make an emergency landing. At least three people have been reported in critical condition after the accident.

Four people killed after two helicopters collided mid-air in Australia’s Gold Coast region near Sea World theme park pic.twitter.com/Z0dzS7zqTZ
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Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the country had been left shocked by the “terrible and tragic incident”. Albanese posted on his Twitter, “My thoughts are with all those affected, including first responders, and my deepest sympathies are with those who are grieving.”

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk called the incident an “unthinkable tragedy” and said her “deepest sympathies are with each of the families and everyone affected by this terrible accident”.

The collision took place around 14:00 local time on January 3, 2022. Gary Worrell of the Queensland Police Service said that “Due to the area it’s located, on the sand bank, it was difficult to gain access, to get our emergency services to the scene to manage it appropriately.”

Images from the site show debris strewn around the area and a mangled helicopter apparently lying upside down near the beach.

*^{One of the crashed helicopters landed safely on a sandbank, but debris from the other was spread across an area police described as difficult to access. (Image Credit: Dave Hunt/AAP/via AP)}*

Footage circulating on social media showed one of the helicopters was clipped by another helicopter shortly after taking off and flying over the water. All the passengers aboard the two helicopters were tourists and had come to visit Sea World, a globally renowned theme park.

The helicopters were being used for tourist transportation and sightseeing. Sea World has expressed its condolences and said it was cooperating with the authorities handling the crash investigation.

Sea World released a statement stating that “We and the entire flying community are devastated by what has happened and our sincere condolences go to all those involved and especially the loved ones and family of the deceased.” The company did not confirm if it operated one or both helicopters involved in the crash, saying in the statement it would not comment further because of the ongoing investigation.