On 2 January 2023, at approximately 13:59 AEST,[1] two helicopters operated by Sea World Helicopters collided mid-air at about 130 feet above ground'[5] whilst one was attempting to land and the other departing from a helipad at Sea World theme park.[6] Both helicopters were undertaking tourist trips for park-goers along the Gold Coast Broadwater, although the operator is not associated with the theme park.[7]
Less than a minute after take-off, the departing helicopter (VH-XKQ)[8] collided with the arriving helicopter (VH-XH9).[8][9] This resulted in the departing helicopter’s main rotor blades and gearbox separating,[10] causing the helicopter to crash on a sandbar, killing four on board including the pilot, Ashley Jenkinson and leaving three in critical condition.[7]
The other victims were 36 year old Vanessa Tadros and United Kingdom couple Diane, 67 and Ron Hudges, 65. Vanessa's 10 year old son, Nicholas, and a mother and son, 33 year old Winnie and 9 year old Leon De Silva, survived.[7][11][12] The arriving helicopter, rode by pilot Michael James, was able to stabilize itself after the collision and successfully perform an emergency landing on the same sandbar with substantial damage.[8][10] All six on board survived without critical injury, this includes James, Jessie Maya,[13] and four people from New Zealand, Elmarie and Riann Steenberg, and Edward and Marle Swart.[14] Five of the six survivors on the arriving helicopter suffering minor glass shrapnel wounds from the shattered cockpit windshield.[15][16] All nine survivors were taken to hospital for further treatment: eight were transported to Gold Coast University Hospital and one was transported to Queensland Children’s Hospital.[1]
Many members of the public witnessed the collision, with beachgoers, boaters, and nearby police attending the scene to provide first aid and free injured passengers from the helicopter.[17][18]
Sea World Helicopters Pty Ltd, the operator of the two helicopters involved, temporarily closed after the incident[6] but has since resumed operations.
Queensland Police and the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) investigated the collision. Investigators from ATSB offices in Brisbane and Canberra arrived the following day,[1] removed both aircraft from the sandbar and retrieved electronic recording equipment.[11]
A video of the arriving helicopter recorded by a passenger, which was aired by Seven News, shows a passenger pointing at the departing helicopter, tapping pilot Michael James on his shoulder and grabbing hold of his seat seconds before the collision.[9] Footage from three lipstick cameras attached to the departing helicopter was examined by the ATSB.[9]
The flight paths of both aircraft (which eventually intersect)
Traces of cocaine were later found in the deceased pilot Ash Jenkinson's system. Experts claim it could lead to increased testing regulations.[19]
Final report
On 9 April 2025, the final report of the collision was released by the ATSB. The final report found that pilot on the ground was not properly alerted by the inbound call from arriving helicopter. Other safety issues were attributed to Sea World Helicopters' operations and management.[20][21]
An asterisk (*) denotes an incident that took place in an External territory of Australia.
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