Heart-wrenching video capturing the tragic collision of two Sea World helicopters, which resulted in the deaths of four individuals, was presented during an inquest into one of Australia’s most devastating aviation accidents.
The recordings, sourced from cameras inside both helicopters and witnesses on the ground, were unveiled on Monday as the investigation delved into the 2023 crash on the Gold Coast.
Among the victims were British nationals Ron and Diane Hughes, Sea World Helicopter pilot Ash Jenkinson, and Vanessa Tadros, a mother from Sydney. The tragic incident occurred when the two helicopters, engaged in sightseeing operations, collided over the Gold Coast Broadwater.
Nicholas, the ten-year-old son of Vanessa Tadros, was one of the three survivors left critically injured by the crash.
The inquest revealed footage depicting the harrowing moments leading up to the collision, which ended with the helicopters crashing onto a sandbank below.
Family members of those who perished, including Vanessa Tadros’s husband, were present during Monday’s proceedings.
The inquest, overseen by Coroner Carol Lee, is expected to run for several weeks and will examine the operator’s training, safety procedures and communication systems.
Counsel assisting the inquest, Ian Harvey, told the court the videos provided the ‘inescapable conclusion’ neither pilot saw the other.
Harrowing footage of the moment two Sea World helicopters crashed and killed four people in January 2023 has been played to an inquest into one of the country’s worst air disasters
A police officer described one helicopter as a ‘mangled wreck’ following the mid-air collision
The wreckages of both helicopters are seen following the collision over the Gold Coast estuary
Ron and Diane Hughes (pictured on their wedding day) were two of four people killed in the helicopter crash
Australian mother Vanessa Tadros (pictured) was the fourth person confirmed to have died in the incident
He told the court both pilots were highly experienced and were operating modern machines designed with multiple safety features.
‘How such a situation arose will be examined in detail during these hearings,’ he said.
The collision occurred less than half a minute after one of the helicopters lifted off for a short scenic flight.
The first helicopter, flown by Mr Jenkinson, crashed onto a sandbank and overturned.
The second helicopter, flown by pilot Michael James, sustained major damage but managed a controlled landing on the same sandbank.
The inquest heard that two children, including Ms Tadros’s young son, were pulled from the wreckage with significant injuries.
Police officers described the scene as chaotic, with debris strewn across the sand and members of the public attempting to help the injured, the Courier Mail reported.
One officer said the first helicopter was a ‘mangled wreck’ when he arrived.
Birmingham-born Ash Jenkinson (pictured with his family) was one of the four people killed in the crash
A young child was transported from the crash site by boat and then transferred to the RACQ Lifeflight helicopter and rushed to hospital in a serious condition
Sea World Helicopter pilot Ash Jenkinson, 40, (pictured) was behind the controls of the helicopter which nosedived into the sandbar. He was one of four killed in the collision
It follows a finding by the Australian Transport Safety Bureau earlier this year that the crash could have been prevented had a number of ‘risk factors’ been addressed.
The damning report found multiple failures – including faulty radio communication and incomplete safety systems – contributed to the fatal collision.
Carter Capner Law director Peter Carter said the inquest ‘leaves open’ the prospect of criminal charges in a statement on Monday.
‘We’ve already seen serious failings laid bare in an Australian Transport Safety Bureau report, and this inquest will put the events of January 2023 under even more scrutiny,’ he said.
‘It’s important that affected families get more information on why too many aircraft were operating in a contested space and why faulty radio equipment was being used.’
Coroner Lee said the hearings would keep the loss of four lives at the forefront of the proceedings.
The inquiry will hear evidence from survivors, Air Transport Safety Bureau investigators, police and staff from Sea World Helicopters.
It is set to run for three weeks.
