According to a preliminary report by the Australian Transport Safety Bureau, the surviving pilot, Michael James, observed passengers boarding the other helicopter as it prepared to take off as he returned from his flight to a helipad. He did not see it take off and assumed it would pass behind him.
According to an interim report, a pilot told investigators he did not recall hearing another on the ground announce he was lifting off before their helicopters collided and crashed in Australia, killing four people, including a British couple.
The two Sea World helicopters collided in January near the resort and theme park in Queensland while conducting scenic excursions.
Diane and Ron Hughes, 57 and 65, from Neston, Cheshire, as well as Vanessa Tadros, 36, from Sydney, and Ashley Jenkinson, the pilot of the second helicopter, perished in the accident.
Nine individuals were injured, including Ms. Tadros’ 10-year-old son. Who remains hospitalized and had his right leg amputated from the knee down last week.
According to a preliminary report by the Australian Transport Safety Bureau, the surviving pilot, Michael James, witnessed passengers boarding the other helicopter as it prepared to take off as he returned from his flight to a helipad adjacent to Sea World.
He didn’t see it lift off, but he thought he’d be clear of it and it’d pass behind him.
Mr. James told investigators that he did not recall the other pilot making a standard taxiing call to indicate his intention to take off.
“This does not necessarily imply that a taxi call was not made,” the report noted.
Mr. James also told investigators that he did not see the other helicopter take off as he landed.
Two of his fellow passengers detected the ascending aircraft and alerted him to its presence.
23 seconds after the second aircraft lifted off, the helicopters collided at a height of about 130 feet.
Angus Mitchell, the chief commissioner of the safety bureau, stated that the investigation into the collision would be “complex and comprehensive” and would “look closely at the issues both pilots may have encountered in seeing the other helicopter.”
He said the survivors and families of those killed “want to not only comprehend how the tragedy unfolded but equally. And most importantly, why it occurred. And why didn’t the safety equipment, processes, and procedures designed to prevent such an accident function in this instance?”
The safety bureau’s investigation is one of several ongoing investigations into the collision. And it is anticipated that it will take at least another 18 months to conclude.
