Tech entrepreneur Linda Woodford killed in Victoria helicopter crash

Linda Woodford, 50, died alongside pilot Dean Neal and three other passengers when the chopper came down at Mt Disappointment.

A tech entrepreneur killed in a horrific helicopter crash shared a chilling final post before the chopper came down, leaving five people dead.

Linda Woodford, 50, died alongside pilot Dean Neal and three other passengers when the chopper came down at Mt Disappointment, north of Melbourne, on Thursday morning.

The businesswoman, who founded company AXIchain, had been “transforming the entire meat industry process”, her distraught brother told 9News.

He added that their family had “never felt emotional pain like this”.

The helicopter took off from Batman Park in central Melbourne and crashed shortly after 9am on Thursday.

In a Facebook post shortly before take-off, she wrote: “The transport to work today... a little different.”

She included pictures of the helicopter and an image of herself sitting on board.

Linda posted this picture shortly before the crash

Dean Neal, 32, died in the helicopter tragedy. Picture: Instagram

Mr Neal had four passengers who also lost their lives. Picture: Instagram

Pilot Neal’s father Rodney said: “We are inexplicably shocked and stressed by the loss of our son and brother Dean.

“Dean has always been the most conscientious and professional pilots and always put the safety and wellbeing of his passengers in the highest of his priorities during his many years of professional service.

“Our broken hearts go to the families and friends of those who were flying with him.

“Your unspeakable loss is understood by us all. We know Dean would have done anything in his power to deliver his passengers safely to their destination.”

One of the passengers was earlier identified as Paul Troja, the chairman of Radfords Warragul – an abattoir and meat processing plant.

The 73-year-old has been described as a “stalwart” in Victoria’s meat industry.

Speaking to 9News, the victim’s son revealed the tragic timing of Mr Troja’s death. Not only was he planning on taking a step back from work, the father-of-four had welcomed his fifth grandchild just two days before his death.

“He wanted to spend more time with the family, but he wanted to do one last job to get a bit more money behind him, so he could help us out,” said Luke Troja.

“This was going to be it, and he was going to give it away.”

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Radfords Warragul chairman Paul Troja died after a helicopter crash at Mt Disappointment in Victoria.

Among the other victims were a 59-year-old man and 70-year-old man from NSW.

The four passengers were all meat farmers who were heading north to Ulupna near the Victorian-NSW border as part of a business trip to purchase cattle, however Mr Troja was the only representative from Radfords.

‘Stalwart in the global meat industry’

Since his passing, Radfords have released a statement on the “tragic loss” of the company’s chairman.

Mr Troja had worked in multiple roles within the Australian meat industry, including positions at Riverstone Meat, Rockdale Beef Pty Ltd and Felix Domus Pty Ltd.

“Paul, a stalwart in the global meat industry, has consulted to our business for over five years and became the inaugural chairman of our board when it was formed in 2019,” the statement said.

“He has served our company with distinction during this time, is a close friend of our owner Robert Radford and a respected member of our leadership team.”

A photo of Paul Troja from 2002.

Police have continued the recovery efforts for the downed Microflight helicopter. Picture: Jason Edwards.

They said Mr Troja was integral in helping the company expand into international markets and achieve its Tier 1 export licence.

“Our condolences are with his wife, Ann, children, grandchildren and members of his extended family, who were treasured by him, and friends at this time and with the family and friends of the other people involved in this accident.”

The crash site of the chopper crash.

Low-lying clouds may have played a part

According to Sunrise, the doomed chopper was travelling as part of a convoy, with the second aircraft landing safely at Moorabbin.

First responders were hampered by the rugged terrain of the crash site, with the wreckage found two hours after the helicopter disappeared.

The forest is so dense that bulldozers were needed to get access to the site near Blair’s Hut at around 3.45pm on Thursday afternoon.

Emergency services responding to the aviation accident at Mt Disappointment. Picture: Jason Edwards

Experts were then winched down to the scene of the crash to retrieve and identify the victims.

Aviation experts visited the site at first light Friday morning in an attempt to discover what went wrong, although it is expected to be a lengthy process which could take months to determine.

According to Sunrise, one theory being pursued is whether low-lying clouds played a role.

“The helicopter’s been destroyed and unfortunately there were no survivors,” Acting Inspector Josh Langelaan told the media on Thursday night.

Bulldozers were needed to access the site. Picture: Jason Edwards

The crash is the worst aircraft catastrophe since a charter plane crashed into the Essendon DFO shopping mall in February 2017, claiming five lives.

The Australian Transport Safety Bureau will take over the investigation, and will send in teams from both Melbourne and Canberra.