54-year-old man dies after being hit by a bird while a helicopter passenger at Gapuwiyak

A man has died in a freak helicopter accident in the Northern Territory, after the chopper struck a bird causing it to ricocheted into the cabin, fatally striking the 54-year-old.

UPDATE — July 15, 12.30pm: The national transport safety regulator has confirmed it is investigating a freak helicopter incidident at Gapuwiyak on Monday which killed a 54-year-old man.

A spokesman for the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) confirmed there were only two people on board the helicopter when it was struck by a bird, fatally wounding the passenger.

“The Australian Transport Safety Bureau has commenced a transport safety investigation into an accident involving a Bell 206L Longranger helicopter near Lake Evella Airport at Gapuwiyak, in northeast Arnhem Land, NT, on Monday,” the spokesman said.

“As reported to the ATSB, the helicopter was in flight with a pilot and passenger on board, when it struck a bird, and the passenger sustained fatal injuries.

“The pilot was able to divert the helicopter to the Lake Evella Airport.

“The evidence collection phase of the investigation will involve interviewing the pilot, retrieving and reviewing any recorded data, and the collection of other relevant information.

“A final report will be released at the conclusion of the investigation.

“Should a critical safety issue be identified during the investigation, the ATSB will immediately notify relevant parties, so that appropriate safety action can be taken.”

NT Police will prepare a report for the coroner about the incident.

NT WorkSafe has also been notified.

INITIAL — July 14, 6pm: A man has died in a freak helicopter accident, after the aircraft struck a bird causing it to ricocheted into the cabin, fatally striking the 54-year-old.

NT Police said they were investigating the fatal helicopter incident at Gapuwiyak, in northeastern Arnhem Land, after the aircraft was forced to make an emergency landing at the Lake Evella airstrip at 2pm on Monday.

NT Police said the helicopter was carrying two occupants when the aircraft struck a bird.

“The impact allegedly caused the bird to fatally strike a 54-year-old male passenger,” a spokesman said.

The pilot was able to land the chopper safely and was uninjured, but the passenger was declared deceased.

NT Police said NT WorkSafe and the Australian Transport Safety Bureau have been notified with a report to be prepared for the coroner.

Originally published as 54-year-old man dies after being hit by a bird while a helicopter passenger at Gapuwiyak