Four feared dead after military chopper crashes near Hamilton Island
A major search and rescue operation is underway for four Australians after a military helicopter crashed during a training exercise near Hamilton Island.
Four people are feared dead after a military helicopter crashed into the ocean off Hamilton Island.
The military helicopter, known as a Taipan, had been engaged in a two-helicopter mission when it crashed at about 10.30pm on Friday.
There were four Australian crew aboard the MRH-90 aircraft at the time.
The second chopper immediately began a search and rescue operation.
Defence minister Richard Marles addressed media on Saturday morning, confirming the four air crew were yet to be found.
“We desperately hope for better news during the course of the day,” he said.
“The search and rescue continues.
“Our hopes and thoughts are very much with the air crew and their families, our hopes are with the search and rescue crews as they go about their work right now.”
The families of the four crew onboard have been notified.
#RACQ#CQRescue crew confirm debri was seen in the water from about 700 feet above on a search early this morning for a missing ADF MRH90 helicopter with 4 on board. Search was in the vicinity of Dent Island in the Whitsundays.
— RACQ CQ Rescue (@cq_rescue) July 28, 2023
“Defence exercises, which are so necessary for the readiness of our defence force, are serious. They carry risk.”
Talisman Sabre exercise director Brigadier Damian Hill invited the exercise participants to pause and let their families know what is happening.
“I’ll be available throughout the day (and) in the coming days as excise director to provide updates as they become known to us to ensure that everybody is aware of what we’re doing to look after our people,” he said.
Search efforts were delayed by bad weather, but the wreckage was found washed in the water south of the Hamilton Island Shute Harbour.
Recovery efforts resumed on Saturday morning.
What is Exercise Talisman Sabre?
The chopper was taking part in Exercise Talisman Sabre, which has been paused in the light of the accident.
According to the Australian Army, the MRH-90 Taipan aircraft is one of the “most advanced tactical troop transport helicopters of the 21st century.”
The ADF currently has 47 of the choppers - which can reach maximum speeds of 300km per hour - through the Advanced Helicopter Program for Australia.
The MRH-90 also reportedly has the “highest crash-worthy standards”.
It comes only a week after Talisman Sabre commenced, with the deputy prime minister kicked off the exercise in an opening ceremony in Canberra.
“It is a privilege to officially open Talisman Sabre 2023 and welcome all participating nations,” Mr Marles said on July 21.
Talisman Sabre, is the ADF’s biggest training exercise, involving more than 31,000 soldiers, marines, sailors and pilots from across 13 countries.
US Marines and Australian soldiers have been conducting exercises together in the Whitsundays as part of Talisman Sabre.
Australian and US forces have been joined by officers from Canada, Fiji, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, Tonga, Japan, Korea, New Zealand, the UK, France and Germany.
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