Two helicopters collided on Monday January 2nd in the south-east of Australia’s Queensland region. Four people lost their lives.
Two helicopters collided in mid-air on Monday, January 2, killing four and seriously injuring three, authorities said. An investigation has been launched to determine the causes of the accident, which took place on the busy coast of the Golden Coast (Gold Coast) in south-east Queensland, Australia.
Television images showed the rotors of a device lying on a sandbank a few meters from the shore. Nearby, one of the two helicopters was overturned on the sand, according to public broadcaster ABC. The other plane appeared largely intact at the scene near Sea World marine theme park.
Four dead
The two helicopters “collisioned,” with one crashing and the other “landing on the sandbar just outside Sea World Park,” Queensland Police Inspector Gary Worrell said. “As a result, four people have lost their lives today” and “three others are in critical condition in hospital,” he added during a news conference at the site.
The exact causes of the collision are not known, but according to Gary Worrell, one helicopter appears to have taken off when the other landed. The one that landed safely had lost its windshield, while the other crashed and overturned, police said.
The inspector found that rescue operations were made more difficult by the accident site on a sandbank. But he pointed out that passers-by rushed to get passengers from the plane, whose cabin had overturned. “Members of the public and police tried to get the people out and began administering first aid to get them to safety,” the police officer added, before “thanking everyone who helped and allowed these people in.” bring to the emergency room.” .
\ud83d\udd16\ud83c\udde6\ud83c\uddfaFour dead in two helicopter collision in Australia: Two helicopters collided in the air near a popular tourist attraction in Australia’s Gold Coast region on Monday (January 2), killing four people and critically affecting their lives Three others were injured, according to Queensland Police Acting pic.twitter.com/0QGapAPPhT
—worldnews24u (@worldnews24u) January 2, 2023
open investigation
After the accident, a bright yellow rescue helicopter landed on the sand at the scene of the crime, while dozens of rescuers spread out on the ground, according to television images. Several police and rescue ships stood ready to intervene near the sandbar, which was littered with debris from the two helicopters.
The Australian Transport Safety Board announced it was launching an investigation into the accident, which was presented as a “mid-air collision”. Investigators were expected on site to examine the wreck, map the site and recover investigative materials, the organization said in a statement. The bureau appealed to witnesses who may have seen or have footage of the helicopters in flight.