Australian Border Force collects five men on beach after arriving illegally by boat

Dramatic footage has shown the moment a helicopter landed near five men believed to be stranded on a remote stretch of beach in Australia’s north after arriving illegally by boat. SEE VIDEO

Dramatic footage has shown the moment a helicopter landed near five men believed to be stranded on a remote stretch of beach in Australia’s north after arriving illegally by boat.

North Australian Helicopters posted footage on their Facebook on Thursday of a helicopter touching down near five men on a beach, with it understood the group was later collected by the Australian Border Force.

The video appeared to show a message scrawled in the sand near the men, believed to read ‘SOS’, with it understood a pole with a red rag tied to it was nearby.

It’s not known what country the men came from.

Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke wouldn’t confirm whether the men had been picked up, while his opposite, Coalition home affairs spokesman James Paterson, seized on the men’s apparent detection by a commercial helicopter company.

North Australian Helicopters claim a group of 'boat people' were washed up on a northern Australian beach in April 2025 and had been there for a 'quite a while'.

“Media reports of an apparent illegal maritime arrival are deeply concerning. Regardless of whether they are people smugglers or illegal fishers, no one should be able to reach the Australian mainland undetected,” Senator Paterson said.

“Once again, we have seen the Albanese government relying on private businesses alerting the government to serious security concerns, like when a Virgin Australia pilot was the first to alert the government to a … live fire exercise in the Tasman Sea.

“Time and time again, we have seen Labor fail to keep Australia safe. Only a Dutton Coalition government will restore Operation Sovereign Borders and stop the boats.”

Mr Burke wouldn’t confirm the five men’s arrival on Australian shores, but said: “When someone tries to arrive without a visa they are detained and then deported”.

“We do not confirm, or comment on, operational matters,” he said.

“There has never been a successful people smuggling venture under our government, and that remains true.

An Australian Border Force spokesman said the ABF “does not comment on or confirm operational matters”.

Originally published as Australian Border Force collects five men on beach after arriving illegally by boat