Whitsunday helicopter crash: Search for Diggers widens as Army chief vows ‘we’ll bring them home’

The air safety investigation into the most recent Taipan crash before a helicopter with four crewmen went down off the Queensland coast is “not yet finally complete”, it can be revealed.

• Army chief: No early retirement for Taipans

Air crash investigators have arrived in Queensland as more than 800 personnel search for four Defence air crewmen still missing after a military chopper crash on Friday night.

Minister for Defence Personnel Matt Keogh confirmed the investigation into why the MRH90 Taipan ditched into waters off Lindeman Island was now underway.

He said some debris had been recovered but the “main airframe” had not.

Mr Keogh also revealed the air safety investigation into the most recent Taipan crash—a controlled ditching of the chopper into waters off Jervis Bay with 10 commandos on board—was “not yet finally complete”.

“Well, the most recent incident, there were learnings that came out of that and mitigations that were implemented. And the air safety investigation is not yet finally complete on that,” he said.

“But there were things that we took into account to ensure the continued safe operation of the helicopter. I can’t speculate further than that, of course you’ll appreciate, until we understand what’s actually happened here.”

SEARCH FOR SERVICEMEN BROADENS

The search for four Australian servicemen has broadened from the site where their Taipan helicopter crashed into the ocean during Exercise Talisman Sabre, as the identities of the men of the elite 6th Aviation regiment were revealed.

Lieutenant Maxwell Nugent, Captain Danniel Lyon, Corporal Alexander Naggs and Warrant Officer Class Two Joseph Laycock were flying on a training exercise as part of a series of international war games off the Queensland coast when their MRH-90 Taipan aircraft went down.

Chief of the Australian Army Lieutenant General Simon Stuart confirmed the news outside Holsworthy Army Barracks and said all men were part of the “highly skilled” 6th Aviation regiment.

Lieutenant Max Nugent.

Corporal Alex Naggs.

“You’ve really got to feel for their families and their mates and I would ask everyone to keep that in the front of their minds,” Lt Gen Stuart said.

Lt Gen Stuart said the “first and most pressing” priority was bringing the four men home to their families, with the search for all of the Diggers still going last night.

Queensland Police divers will join the search today, working alongside their navy counterparts.

Police Minister Mark Ryan said state-based emergency services, including volunteer marine rescue, had been “very engaged” in the search.

“The latest that I’ve got is that defense naval divers engaged today and obviously being supported by Queensland Police Service divers as well,” he said.

Warrant Officer Class 2 Joseph Laycock.

Captain Dan Lyon.

Lt Gen Stuart said the men, all stationed at Holsworthy in Sydney’s southwest, were part of an elite unit that was tight-knit and often worked with Special Forces soldiers.

“They’re part of a really tight team, very highly professional, highly skilled aviation unit. This is the aviation unit that supports and performs our Special Operations set of missions,” Lt Gen Stuart said.

At least one of the airmen missing in the Whitsundays after a helicopter crash on Friday night was formerly based in Townsville.

Federal Member for Herbert and former 1RAR soldier Phillip Thompson confirmed Corporal Naggs served in the 1RAR in Townsville until 2017, saying he knew him when they both served together.

“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.”

Search for the MRH-90 Taipan helicopter near Dent Island. Picture: Michaela Harlow

At least two of the airmen are fathers with young children, and Lieutenant Nugent is the son of senior NSW Police Force officer Daniel Nugent, with NSW Premier Chris Minns praising the selfless dedication of the father and son to the Australian Defence Force and NSW Police, and saying their family “must be hurting this morning”.

“I can only imagine what they’re going through today. It’s just devastating,” Mr Minns told Sky News.

Royal Australian Navy sailors from HMAS Brisbane prepare to board a Rigid-Hulled Inflatable Boat to conduct search and rescue operations in the vicinity of Lindeman Island.

Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Richard Marles said despite search efforts, the body of the helicopter had not been located by late yesterday.

“The wreckage of the helicopter has been found but the main body of the frame is yet to be located,” he said.

Chief of Joint Operations Lieutenant General Greg Bilton said ocean conditions around the Whitsundays had hampered efforts to locate the aircraft and the men.

“The Whitsundays is renowned for currents, so you do get some movement of any debris in the water,” he said.

“The waves and the actual conditions at the moment are moderate so there are some challenges … but it’s not stopping operations.”

He said he was confident the ADF was capable of finding the fuselage and “our four mates”.

The search field for the downed MRH-90 Taipan helicopter yesterday shifted to waters off the southern end of Dent Island where HMAS Adelaide and HMAS Brisbane were positioned.

This was some distance from where the tail of the chopper was winched from a site off Denman Island, between North and South Molle Islands on Saturday afternoon and brought to Shute Harbour in the evening.

The two warships were joined by a variety of other vessels amid the 15 to 20 knot winds.

Barges were motoring through Whitsunday Passage before stopping within the new 1000m exclusion zone.

A barge anchored at the site where a MRH 90 military helicopter crashed, lifts out the tail section on Saturday. Picture: Michaela Harlow

Specialist divers were in the water yesterday morning, and a submarine was deployed south of Dent Island to help with the search efforts.

There was also a 1000m exclusion zone from any military vessel on the water, which also included HMAS Huon and US Government Vessel 5.

At least two army choppers, including a Chinook, flew overhead during yesterday’s search.

The multi-agency response has included Queensland Police with at least two police vessels patrolling the waters.

It is understood more than 50 pieces of debris have been pulled from the water along Dent Island, with recovery crews working against huge tides and a strong currents.

The majority of Exercise Talisman Sabre has started back up after it was paused briefly over the weekend following the crash.

Chief of Joint Operations, Lieutenant General Greg Bilton confirmed on Sunday afternoon the exercise which brings 30,000 military personnel from 13 nations was running again.

“The exercise recommenced at 1200 hours yesterday, what we did pause was the special operations activities in the Whitsundays area,” Lt Gen Bilton said.

Chief of the Australian Army Lieutenant General Simon Stuart. Picture: NCA NewsWIRE / Monique Harmer

“Equally you would be aware The MRH90 has been grounded until we better understand what’s occurred surrounding the accident.”

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the nation “owes a debt” of gratitude to the four men.

“Today, every Australian is thinking of the four families of the missing aircrew,” he said.

“Our thoughts are also with those they serve alongside. Friends, brothers and sisters in uniform, who even now are aiding in the search effort.”

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 Whitsunday helicopter crash: Search for Diggers widens as Army chief vows ‘we’ll bring them home’