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2023 Gold Coast mid-air collision
Helicopter collision in Queensland, Australia From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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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]
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Collision
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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.
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Investigation
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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]
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]
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