The pilot and three passengers were murdered in a terrible crash between two Sea World tour helicopters on the Gold Coast in front of hundreds of vacationers.
Ash Jenkinson, 40, was the lead pilot for Sea World Helicopters which organizes the trips from the popular amusement park and was behind the controls of one aircraft which nosedived into a sandbar on the Broadwater.
Three more passengers are fighting for their lives, while many more have been left injured after the mid-air accident – though the second aircraft managed to restore control and land upright with those on board all surviving.
Video from the helipad shows a holidaymaker and his little son seeing the helicopter lift and then within seconds pass into the path of the second aircraft – with the child asking: ‘Is he going to crash?’.
Witnesses raced to the disaster site, which was mere metres from the heavily populated amusement park and marina, and hastily dialed 911 before removing victims from the debris.
Queensland Ambulance has reported that four individuals have died, three are fighting for their lives, and four others have been brought to the hospital.
Three fatalities are suspected when two helicopters collided in midair near the Sea World theme park on the Gold Coast as shocked tourists watched.
Photos revealed that at least one of the two helicopters was a Sea World tour helicopter.
According to witnesses, one of the helicopters was attempting to land when it collided with the rotor of the second aircraft, which was taking off.
Emma Burch, a second witness, provided the identical story of the accident.
According to what we observed, one aircraft was taking off while the other was landing. They collided,’ she explained.
“A massive explosion was heard throughout the Broadwater tourist area, followed by the sound of a plane crashing into the water and disintegrating.”
“It’s very terrible. Everyone is stunned.
One of the helicopters crashed into the sandbar, scattering debris across the beach and embedding the main rotor in the sand some distance from the rest of the debris.
Four passengers, including the pilot, perished, while three others, a mother and two children, are in critical condition.
The other helicopter successfully landed on the neighboring sandbar with six passengers, some of whom sustained non-life-threatening injuries.
On the sandbank, the two helicopters engaged in the accident are seen, with one slamming into the sand and the other landing upright.
Marine Rescue was seen racing to the sandbar in front of a Sea World-branded chopper.
Lifeguards and police officials on one of many vessels that hurried to the scene rushed to the rescue.
Queensland Ambulance reported a total of thirteen patients, six in one helicopter and seven in another.
Matt Fitzpatrick, the duty captain of Volunteer Marine Rescue Southport, stated that three units were dispatched to the area.
Multiple helicopters are involved, and we do not know the condition of individuals on board, he said.
Photos revealed that at least one of the two helicopters, the one that landed safely, was a Sea World tour helicopter.
The organization released a statement hours after the accident.
A spokeswoman for Sea World Helicopters stated, “SWH has conveyed its astonishment and greatest sympathies for everyone involved in the Sea World helicopter accident on the Gold Coast, Broadwater in Southport this afternoon.”
“We and the entire aviation community are horrified by what has occurred, and our deepest condolences go out to all those affected, especially the deceased’s loved ones and family.”
“We are collaborating with all relevant authorities, including the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) and the Queensland Police.” Due to the ongoing investigation, we cannot share any additional information at this time.’
One patient was transferred by paramedics to a waiting chopper for air transport to the hospital.
Heavy damage occurred to the front of the Sea World chopper that stayed upright.
It is believed that the chopper that was taking off collided with another helicopter and then nose-dived into the dunes.
Witnesses were astounded by the midair crash.
I heard a loud explosion and saw smoke streaming from one of the helicopters. It was smoldering and teetering on the ground, according to a witness who spoke to Daily Mail Australia.
One individual asked if it was part of the Sea World show.
A devastated woman and child were observed at the helipad while a portion of the amusement park was closed to prevent guests from viewing the crash site.
Others stated that observing the catastrophe unfold was “beyond horrifying.”
My daughter observed them. Humans on both. Thankfully, the aircraft touched down on the sand and not in SeaWorld. Simply praying for everyone,’ stated one.
“We heard a huge noise and witnessed flying debris,” another internet user stated.
Tor Kumpel, a local of the Gold Coast, was swimming with his wife in the broadwater when he witnessed the incident shortly after one chopper took off.
Only one helicopter was involved in the collision. The one that was approaching. The sight was horrifying, he told The Courier Mail.
“The (pilot) who landed the other aircraft. They merit an award. It took some time to stabilize, but they accomplished it.
42-year-old Blue Mountains resident Amii McDermot witnessed the accident while waiting in line for the Vortex ride at Sea World.
There was debris everywhere, one of the helicopters lost its tail, and it nosedived into the ground at full speed.
She stated that her two younger children are unaware of what they witnessed, however her two older children are pretty shaken.
Investigators are rushing to collect evidence before the sandbar is covered by high tide.
Officers comb the sand for debris that could aid the investigation into the incident’s cause.
According to the Australian Transport Safety Bureau, an inquiry into the collision has already been initiated.
Transport safety investigators with expertise in helicopter operations, maintenance, and survivability engineering are deploying from the ATSB’s Brisbane and Canberra offices and are expected to begin arriving at the accident site on Monday afternoon, according to ATSB Chief Commissioner Angus Mitchell.
‘ATSB investigators will examine the debris and map the accident scene during the evidence collection phase of the investigation.’
‘Investigators will also recover any pertinent components for further inspection at the ATSB’s technical facilities in Canberra, collect any accessible recorded data for analysis, and conduct interviews with witnesses and other interested parties.
The ATSB requests that any witnesses to the accident contact them immediately.
Emergency personnel hurried to the wreckage in hopes of finding survivors, however all individuals on board are feared dead.