Search for missing copter crew tragically shifts as calls for answers mount
The search for four missing servicemen presumed dead has shifted from a rescue mission to a recovery mission after three days.
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The search for four missing men presumed dead after a horror helicopter crash has tragically shifed as calls for answers mount.
Defence Minister Richard Marles announced on Monday afternoon that the search and rescue operation had pivoted to one of recovery.
“With every passing hour, it is now clear that any hope of finding kept Captain Lyon, Lieutenant Nugent, Warrant Officer Laycock, and Corporal Naggs alive, has been lost,” Mr Marles said.
“As such the nature of the activities which are being undertaken in the Whitsundays have transferred from being ones of search and rescue to an activity of recovery.
“The families of the four aircrew were notified of this this morning and I’ve spoken with each of them in the last hour.”
Mr Marles said evidence from preliminary investigations showed that had been a “catastrophic incident”, and that there would be a “full and thorough investigation” into its cause.
“There is going to be the most thorough investigation there can possibly be and in saying that I am confident that we will come to understand what happened here,” he said.
Mr Marles faced questions over the government’s continued use of the troubled MRH-90 Taipan following a crash in March which resulted in the fleet being grounded.
He confirmed the fleet had been grounded again since Friday and would remain so until the investigation is complete, ahead of the phasing out of the Taipans next year.
The Defence Minister urged against any “careless or speculative comments”, but said the aircraft were “certified to fly” when they were used during Talisman Sabre.
Chief of the Defence Force General Angus Campbell sidestepped questions about approval of the helicopters’ use after the March incident when asked about whether he had signed off.
“I am not the senior airworthiness authority in Defence, that is the Chief of the Air Force quite appropriately,” he said.
“I‘m not going to speak on issues related to what ultimately be maybe part may be part of an accident investigation.”
General Campbell thanked Australia, US, and Canadian amry personnel, as well as police and civilian agencies, for their role in the search.
Crews had battled strong currents and tidal movements and in waters that “moved below the depths of standard diving operations”.
General Campbell said that specialist divers would be brought in amid promises to “bring our mates home”.
“A portion of the airframe has been recovered,” he said.
“But there is the greater majority not yet recovered.
“I‘m not sure how long it will take.
“Every appropriate resource has been applied.”
General Campbell also confirmed the grounding would impact the capability of Australian armed forces.
Lieutenant Maxwell Nugent, Captain Danniel Lyon, Corporal Alexander Naggs, and Warrant Officer Class Two Joseph Laycock were flying their MRH-90 Taipan when it went down on Friday in Queensland’s Whitsunday.
At the time of the crash, the men had been involved in training exercise under Talisman Sabre, an annual multinational war-games involving the US, Australia and 13 other nations.
The crash sparked a widespread manhunt as a second helicopter involved in the exercise immediately began searching for the missing men.
The search has since shifted to waters off the southern end of Dent Island and the vicinity around where the HMAS Adelaide and HMAS Brisbane warships are now located.
The Courier Mail reported on Monday that the search area was some distance from where crews had recovered the tail of the helicopter on Saturday. The wreckage was subsequently winched off of Denman Island.
Efforts were ramped up on Sunday after a submarine was deployed south of Dent Island to help with search efforts involving an array of marine vessels. Specialist divers seen combing through the water for any trace of the missing men or the aircraft.
At least two army helicopters, including an American-made Chinook, were seen flying overhead during the multi-agency search effort, with an 1000m exclusion zone set up around the military vessels.
The retrieval effort involving the Queensland Police and Marine Rescue has so far retrieved 50 pieces of debris from the water, according to the Courier Mail.
Search efforts were hampered by inclement conditions over the weekend, including huge tides, strong winds, and a tough current.
The tragedy involving four men from the 6th Aviation Regiment based out of Sydney's Holsworthy base triggered an outpouring of grief from defence and civilian leaders on Monday.
Chief of the Australian Army Lieutenant General Simon Stuart told the media outside Holsworthy Army Barracks on Sunday that all men were part of the “highly skilled” regiment.
General Stuart said the unit was used to support Australia Special Operations’ “set of missions” and urged the public to keep the families of the four men at the “front of their mind”.
Federal member for Herbert and former 1RAR soldier Phillip Thompson confirmed he knew one of the men, Corporal Naggs, who served in the 1RAR in Townsville until 2017.
“We were both in the infantry. Naggs was in heavy weapons and he also serviced in rifle companies,” Mr Thompson said.
“I knew him, he was a mate.”
Leaders also faced questions about the future of the MRH-90 Taipan following the crash.
The European-backed Taipan fleet has been plagued by problems since first being purchased by the Howard government in 2004, including multiple groundings after serious accidents.
The fleet was grounded temporarily earlier this year after an MRH-90 Taipan was ditched into water off of Jervis Bay during a night-time counter-terrorism training exercise.
Opposition Leader Peter Dutton described the situation on Monday as “dire”.
“It‘s a sober reminder of the very significant work undertaken by the men and women of the Australian Defence Force,” Mr Dutton said.
Asked about potential grounding of the Taipans, Mr Dutton said: “They‘re grounded now, which is obviously standard procedure.
“We welcome any discussion in relation to all of that (future groundings), but I think we’ll leave for another day.”
Tasmanian independent and former Army Corporal Jacqui Lambie told Sunrise that it was “not appropriate” to begin talking about the Taipan’s issues until the four servicemen were “laid to rest”.
“This is the unfortunate thing: you are training for war all the time and we already know more incidents happen in Defence,” she said.
“You have to do risky things to prepare for war and sometimes the equipment just isn’t up to scratch either.
“I think we will hear a lot more about this in the next few weeks.”
The senator doubled down when later asked by Sky’s First Edition host Peter Stefanovic about initial investigations which he said pointed to a “catastrophic failure” during the flight.
“I think we’ve had rows about the future of the Taipan for sometime, and we’ll leave it for a couple of weeks in respect for the families and see what happens after that,” Ms Lambie said.
“There are questions that need to be asked, and we’ll get some answers”
Former-Nationals leader Barnaby Joyce acknowledged there had been “problems in the past” for the troubled Taipan helicopters, which were advised against by the National Audit Office in 2004.
“It (the Taipan) has been grounded in the past, so we have to make sure that this platform has a frame that is safe, and gives our servicemen and women the best chance,” he told the Today show.
On the same program, Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek said the four men had worked with “bravery” and had contributed to the making the world “safer and more peaceful”.
“Our first focus is on finding the for missing personnel, and supporting their family,” she said.
“The next, very important question is what has gone wrong here? What has gone wrong mechanically.
“Of course, an investigation has to be thorough and complete in answers.”
Support services for ADF personnel
Defence all-hours support line 1800 628 036
Defence Member and Family Helpline 1800 624 608
For information on how to access mental health professionals 1800 IMSICK (1800 467 425)
Open Arms – Veterans & Families Counselling (formerly VVCS) 1800 011 046
Department of Veterans’ Affairs 1800 838 372
Originally published as Search for missing copter crew tragically shifts as calls for answers mount
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