Ron and Diane Hughes: Newlyweds among four killed in tragic mid-air helicopter crash
QUEENSLAND, AUSTRALIA: A British couple died in a helicopter crash near Sea World on Australia's Gold Coast. Four individuals sadly perished on the afternoon of January 2 after two helicopters collided mid-air in front of hundreds of terrified tourists, including Ron and Diane Hughes, aged 65 and 57, respectively.
The third British victim has been identified as pilot Ash Jenkinson, 40, who was born and raised in the West Midlands before relocating to Australia and had just become a father. Vanessa Tadros, an Australian mother, died in the crash as well. She was killed when the chopper dropped more than 300 meters to the ground following the collision.
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Merseyside natives Mr and Mrs Hughes were married in August 2021 and were vacationing in Australia when the accident occurred. Their family released a statement in which they expressed their heartbreak and claimed they are still attempting to reach friends and relatives to inform them, according to Sky News.
The crash occurred on the Gold Coast on January 2 at around 2 pm near Sea World in the Queensland state. During the summer school break, the park would have been crowded with families having fun. According to preliminary investigations, two helicopters—one taking off with seven persons aboard and the other landing with six—collided with each other.
#BREAKING: The UK foreign office has confirmed two British citizens were among four people killed in the Gold Coast helicopter crash - Seaworld's chief pilot Ashley Jenkinson has also been identified as one of the victims. #9News pic.twitter.com/FRbEKwnuiL
— 9News Gold Coast (@9NewsGoldCoast) January 2, 2023
Despite significant damage to the front left portion of the other helicopter, where the pilot was sitting, it "remarkably" landed upright. Six people were on board this helicopter and five of them had minor physical injuries. Chief commissioner of the Australian Transport Safety Bureau, Angus Mitchell, called the i a "tragic start to the new year."
He described how the landing helicopter's front part sustained significant damage when the taking-off helicopter's primary rotors crashed with it 200 metres in the air. The primary rotor blade and gearbox separated from the aircraft's main fuselage during the operation. Emergency personnel had a tough time getting to the crash site due to a sandbank.
A separate business from the theme park, Sea World Helicopters, sent its condolences and said it was "devastated" by what had happened. It also said it was assisting with an inquiry into the crash's cause that had been launched by the authorities. A statement read: "We and the entire flying community are devastated by what has happened and our sincere condolences go to all those involved and especially the loved ones and family of the deceased."
According to John, a witness, there was a "massive, massive bang" and workers at the theme park rushed quickly to block off the areas nearest to the crash. John detailed the incident to Melbourne radio station 3AW. "It was just huge. I'm not sure if it was the propellers or whatever hitting against each other. But there was this poor lady and her son near the helipad in tears."
Officials, according to Mitchell, will keep gathering any and all information, including CCTV from surrounding buildings and public camera footage. He said: "What we need to know now is what was occurring inside them two cockpits at the time. We know the take off and landing are critical phases of any flight where the cognitive workload of pilots are at their greatest."