Sea World helicopter crash: Inquest begins into January 2, 2023 tragedy
Previously unseen videos, shot from multiple angles, have captured the moment two Sea World helicopters collided on the Gold Coast, killing four people. A first responder has told an inquest what he saw.
The inquest into the catastrophic Sea World Helicopters crash, which claimed the lives of four people, has been shown eerie footage filmed by passengers just seconds before the fatal January 2023 collision.
In one clip, taken from the ground, scattered wreckage of helicopter VH-XKQ is seen falling from the sky onto a sandbar across from the Sea World Helicopters landing pad in the footage played before the Brisbane Coronial inquest on Monday.
Among the wreckage were the three passengers and pilot – chief pilot Ash Jenkinson, British newlyweds Ron and Diane Hughes, and Sydney tourist Vanessa Tadros – who lost their lives, along with survivors Winnie De Silva and her nine-year-old son Leon and Mrs Tadros’s son Nicholas.
Michael James safely piloted the second helicopter, VH-XH9, and its five passengers onto the sandbar shortly after.
Passengers inside both aircraft filmed the scenic views of the Gold Coast waterfront moments prior to the crash, unaware of the tragedy about to unfold.
The inquest heard the impact occurred as VH-XH9 descended back towards the landing pad following a five minute scenic flight.
Helicopter VH-XKQ, piloted by Ash Jenkinson, had been commencing another five minute scenic flight when the other helicopter’s nose collided into its side.
Footage filmed by passengers inside VH-XH9 showed an individual frantically tapping on Mr James’s shoulder seconds before glass shattered across the screen.
Counsel assisting Ian Harvey said the eerie footage pointed to the inescapable conclusion that neither pilot saw the other pilot.
He said the inquest would examine how that could have occurred with two highly experienced pilots flying modern and sophisticated helicopters.
He also revealed that the fatal collision was not entirely unprecedented.
Flight data analysed by Air Services Australia indicated that in the 90 days leading up to the crash, there had been at least five near-miss incidents between Sea World Helicopters craft during takeoff and landing, with aircraft coming within about 200 feet (60m) of each other.
Most of these close calls occurred after the operator introduced new EC130 helicopters to its fleet in December 2022, highlighting concerns about pilot familiarity with the aircraft and whether safety procedures were sufficient to manage the increased operational risk.
The inquest was expected to examine whether these prior incidents were adequately reported and addressed and if lessons from them could have prevented the tragedy.
Mr Harvey emphasised that although the inquest would examine a variety of contributing factors, the actions of first responders had been nothing short of remarkable.
At the start of the inquest Coroner Carol Lee reassured the packed seats of the courtroom that it would be “the forefront of these proceedings that four lives have been lost”.
Attendees included Simon Tadros, husband of deceased Vanessa Tadros, 36.
The sole adult survivor of the helicopter VH-XKQ Winnie De Silva told the inquest via video link that she and her son had made a spur of the moment decision to ride in the helicopter while attending Sea World that day.
They had been shown a safety video about seatbelts and other safety protocols before ascent, and the atmosphere had been light – with passengers laughing at the start of the flight, she said.
Ms De Silva said she didn’t see the other helicopter approaching and thought they must have been struck by a bird in the initial moments of the collision.
“When that bang came and the shaking started happening and things started falling on our faces, that is when I realised that it was not going to be safe,” she said
“I was just worried, holding my son’s hand – and the shaking was just terrible.”
Ms De Silva said she saw the pilot pressing buttons, “touching everywhere”, before she closed her eyes and told her son to do the same.
She said the next thing she remembered was “hot machines” on her body as she was trapped under the helicopter.
“I’m just screaming and screaming for help … I’m just so helpless under the helicopter.”
Ms De Silva said she hadn’t even been able to remember her own birthday as she drifted in and out of consciousness.
She said emergency crews had to “cut the helicopter into small pieces” to free her.
“I just remember screaming ‘my legs’ because I could not feel them,” she recounted.
A passenger in the other helicopter, Jesse Maya, told the inquest he had jumped at the opportunity to take his first helicopter ride after he attended the theme park earlier that morning.
But he was now left with the trauma and scattered memories of what followed.
“I didn’t see it till literally the last second … It happened so fast,” he said.
“Once the collision hit I really don’t know much – I don’t know how I got out of the helicopter, I don’t know.”
Sergeant Justin Dunn, who worked for the Gold Coast water police at the time, was one of the first responders and described to the court his experience.
“Absolute chaos, it really was,” he said.
Sgt Dunn said he had rushed to the scene after receiving a priority one call just before 2pm.
Once he reached the sand island, he said he turned his attention immediately to the wreckage of VH-XKQ, which was upside down.
“The pilot, Ash, had passed … I had a look into the pilot’s seat and yeah there was no signs of visible life,” he said.
“I’ve then continued to walk around the airframe. I’ve seen who I now know to be Ron – he uh, there was no visible signs of life with Ron.”
Sgt Dunn said he had also witnessed members of the public attempting CPR on Diane Hughes and Vanessa Tadros.
Ms Tadros’s 10-year-old son, Nicholas, was then conscious and being treated by members of the public, he said.
“I’ve then gone to the rear of the airframe … I’ve had a look underneath where I could see Winnie under there,” Sgt Dunn said.
“She was caught under the airframe; she was trapped … We needed a specialist to get her out.”
“ … Honestly it was a mangled wreck.”
The inquest heard Senior Sergeant Duane Killick had been off duty at Sea World at the time when he witnessed the collision.
“It was a busy day at the theme park,” he said.
“ … I’d been observing the two helicopters getting closer and closer, and I thought to myself at that stage it must be an optical illusion.”
“ … And then obviously they impacted in the air.”
Snr Sgt Killick said he called triple-0, and then located Vanessa Tadros’s husband Simon.
“He was obviously in a bit of a panicked state,” Snr Sgt Killick said.
The inquest is expected to hear from 30 witnesses including survivors of the collision, Sea World Helicopters staff, and investigating police officers.
For the next two weeks, coroner Carol Lee will probe how the collision occurred and whether safety management systems were adequate and appropriate.
The inquest, held in Brisbane, will further examine the adequacy of several factors including the pilots’ training, the passengers’ safety briefing, and the radio systems used.
It follows a damning 200-page report from the Australian Transport Safety Bureau earlier this year, which found a series of “compounding risk failures” including faulty radio equipment and flawed safety systems had contributed to the crash.
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