Sydney couple perish in NSW helicopter crash with three others
Sydney couple Jocelyn Villanueva and Gregory Miller were two of the people who perished on board a helicopter which crashed into rough seas off Port Stephens on Friday night. Their families have been left distraught and have no idea why they were on board.
NSW
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The shattered family of a Sydney woman who died in a helicopter crash with four other people, including her partner, say they are broken and have no idea why they were on board.
Jocelyn Villanueva and Gregory Miller were passengers on the Bell UH1 flying from Brisbane to Sydney on Friday night when it crashed into rough seas off Port Stephens.
Also on board the restored helicopter were Queensland mates Jamie Ogden and Grant Kuhnemann and pilot David Kerr.
Choppy seas and strong winds hampered the search and rescue operation, which turned into a recovery effort on Saturday as emergency services spotted the wreckage and realised the chance of survival was nil.
Outside the Picnic Point home of Mr Miller and Ms Villanueva, her sister Athena Rob said the couple were “loving and devoted to their dogs”.
With tears streaming down her face, Ms Rob said she flew in from Darwin after hearing about the crash.
“We’re lost. We’re broken,” she told The Sunday Telegraph.
“They were a beautiful couple. I’m proud of who they were and what they did. Greg was a warrant officer with the Australian Defence Force at Holsworthy and Jocelyn was a government worker with (Australian Securities and Investments Commission).
“I cannot say why they were on that flight. I’m so broken.”
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Darren Ogden said his brother had “just loved life” and had been talking about the trip with his mates for weeks.
Darren said his brother had been a senior police officer before leaving the force to become a financial planner.
His children Ben and Steph are devastated, while Darren was last night in Newcastle after spending the day at the search and rescue.
Darren said all the family hope for now is Jamie’s body can be found and returned to them.
His friend Mr Kuhnemann was the managing director of the National Property Centre.
The 1966 Bell UH1, a type used by US and Australian forces in the Vietnam War, left Mr Kerr’s hangar in Archerfield and stopped at Coffs Harbour Airport about 4pm on Friday to refuel.
It was destined for Bankstown Airport when it took off an hour later but flew straight into strong westerly winds sweeping across the east coast with a cold front.
Aviation industry experts said the lack of a mayday call and extreme conditions off Port Stephens coast suggested the pilot may have become disorientated.
The last communication between the pilot and Williamtown air traffic control was a request to travel at a higher altitude because of a significant tailwind.
Port Stephens Police Sergeant Ian Allwood said the wreckage would be difficult to locate until the sea settles.
The pilot was a “very experienced aviator” with a registered aircraft that was subject to rigorous safety checks, he added.
Before starting his own business, Brisbane Helicopters, it is understood Mr Kerr, a father, served with the Royal Australian Navy. In recent years he had made the restoration of his helicopter a labour of love.