Grounded Australian Army MRH-90 Taipan helicopter trucked to Townsville

A third of five grounded Army MRH-90 Taipan helicopters was taken by road into Townsville a month after four soldiers died in the Whitsundays during a training exercise. PICTURES, VIDEO

A third of five grounded Australian Army MRH-90 Taipan helicopters was transported by road back to its base in Townsville on Thursday.

The helicopters were grounded after four servicemen died when a Taipan crashed during Exercise Talisman Sabre near Hamilton Island on July 28.

6th Aviation Regiment soldiers Captain Daniel Lyon, Lieutenant Maxwell Nugent, Corporal Alexander Naggs and Warrant Officer Class Two Joseph Laycock died in the crash.

MHR-90 Taipan helicopter crosses the Burdekin Bridge on the back of a truck. Picture: Bryan Lynch

The five Taipans are being relocated from Proserpine to Townsville, with the third vehicle returned to Townsville on Thursday.

The final two helicopters will be returned on Friday and Saturday respectively.

MHR-90 Taipan helicopter crosses the Burdekin Bridge on the back of a truck. Picture: Bryan Lynch

MHR-90 Taipan helicopter crosses the Burdekin Bridge on the back of a truck. Picture: Bryan Lynch

A defence spokesperson said an investigation into the tragic incident was ongoing.

Seven Australian Army and Timor Leste Defence Force soldiers, meanwhile, have been rushed to hospital following an overnight vehicle rollover in the Northern Territory.

It is the second serious incident during exercise Predators Run.

Three US Marines were killed when an Osprey aircraft crashed on Melville Island on Sunday.

Originally published as Grounded Australian Army MRH-90 Taipan helicopter trucked to Townsville