2023 Gold Coast mid-air collision
The aftermath of VH-XH9 | |
| Occurrence | |
|---|---|
| Date | 2 January 2023, 1:59 pm AEST |
| Summary | Mid-air collision due to faulty radio |
| Site | Gold Coast Seaway, Queensland, Australia 27°57′41″S 153°25′23″E / 27.96139°S 153.42306°E |
| Total fatalities | 4 |
| Total injuries | 8 |
| Total survivors | 9 |
| First aircraft | |
| Type | Eurocopter EC130 |
| Operator | Sea World Helicopters Pty Ltd |
| Registration | VH-XH9 |
| Flight origin | Sea World, Queensland, Australia |
| Destination | Sea World, Queensland, Australia |
| Occupants | 6 |
| Passengers | 5 |
| Crew | 1 |
| Fatalities | 0 |
| Injuries | 5 |
| Survivors | 6 |
| Second aircraft | |
| Type | Eurocopter EC130 |
| Operator | Sea World Helicopters Pty Ltd |
| Registration | VH-XKQ |
| Flight origin | Sea World, Queensland, Australia |
| Destination | Sea World, Queensland, Australia |
| Occupants | 7 |
| Passengers | 6 |
| Crew | 1 |
| Fatalities | 4 |
| Injuries | 3 |
| Survivors | 3 |
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
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.
Investigation
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 | |
|---|---|
| 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 seconds before the collision.[9] Footage from three lipstick cameras attached to the departing helicopter will also be examined by the ATSB.[9]
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
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
- List of accidents and incidents involving helicopters
- List of civilian mid-air collisions
- 2015 Villa Castelli mid-air collision
References
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "Report outlines information about helicopter crash that killed British couple". 7 March 2023.
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "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.