‘More than thoughts and prayers’: Push for Taipan safety documents shot down

A parliamentary push to uncover crucial safety documents about the helicopter involved in a deadly crash which killed four servicemen have been denied. It comes as the black box from the aircraft has been found.

A renewed push for safety documents relating to the troubled Taipan helicopters that were involved in a crash that killed four military servicemen will remain hidden for months.

A push to have the documents released led by Greens NSW Senator David Shoebridge was shot down by the government and the Coalition.

The move was supported by all crossbenchers.

“This was a deeply tragic incident that has cut right across the defence community. A respectful response is more than thoughts and prayers, it includes transparency and ensuring it will never happen again,” Mr Shoebridge said.

Senator David Shoebridge. Picture: Martin Ollman

“We owe that to everyone who serves.”

The MRH-90, also known as a Taipan, was flying with four people on-board as part of the Exercise Talisman Sabre when it crashed into the water, south of Hamilton Island, on July 28.

Lieutenant Maxwell Nugent, Warrant Officer Class 2 Joseph Laycock, Corporal Alex Naggs and Captain Dan Lyon were taking part in the Talisman Sabre military exercise when their helicopter – also known as a Taipan – pitched into the ocean.

All four crew members were from Sydney’s 6th Aviation Regiment, Holsworthy Barracks.

More than 800 people were involved in the search and rescue operation in the days after the crash.

The Department of Defence released a statement on Tuesday saying they had located the black box, an aircraft’s voice and flight data recorder.

“Defence’s priority remains the recovery of our soldiers and returning them to their families,” the statement said.

“Defence remains in close contact with the families and is updating them on the operation as new details become available.”

A barge lifts the tail of the MRH-90 military helicopter out of the water. Picture:Michaela Harlow

The Senate first called for the papers relating to the MRH-90 in May but the documents were refused on account of an ongoing inquiry.

The issue-plagued fleet, known as Taipans, was grounded in March this year after an incident at Jervis Bay when the aircraft carrying 10 commandos was forced ditched in shallow water.

All 10 personnel were recovered from the aircraft with no major injuries.

All 47 of the European-designed MRH-90 Taipans were grounded as a results.

The operational pause on flying operations for the Taipans was lifted on April 6 with “risk mitigations in place,” a defence spokeswoman said. The “risk mitigations” were not disclosed at the time.

The aircraft has been listed as a “project of concern” by the Australian National Audit Office.

The federal government earlier in 2023 and prior to the Jervis Bay crash announced the Taipans would be phased out in 2024, 13 years ahead of the intended end of the project.

Defence ground part of all of the fleet in 2019, 2020 and 2021 due to safety and maintenance concerns.

Despite the troubled history, the Royal Australian Navy’s website describes the MRH-090 as having “more built-in safety features that meet or exceed the ADF’s requirements”.

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Department of Veterans’ Affairs 1800 838 372

Originally published as ‘More than thoughts and prayers’: Push for Taipan safety documents shot down