Latest news with #AshleyJenkinson
Yahoo
26-05-2025
- Yahoo
Chopper crash inquest to look at pilot's cocaine use
A pilot's cocaine use before a mid-air helicopter collision will come under scrutiny as part of an inquest into the fatal crash, a coroner has been told. Four people died when two Sea World helicopters collided above the Gold Coast Broadwater in January 2023 during the busy summer holiday season. A litany of factors led to the crash, including limited visibility, failed radio transmissions and a lack of safety protocols, the Australian Transport Safety Bureau's final report revealed in April. A pre-inquest hearing in Brisbane on Monday was told the safety bureau report had provided scope for the helicopter crash inquest to be held at a later date. Pilot Ashley Jenkinson 40, Ronald and Diane Hughes, 65 and 67, and Sydney mother Vanessa Tadros, 36, died in the crash while nine others were injured in the catastrophic collision more than two years ago. The pilot's drug use before the crash would be one of 11 issues to come under the microscope at the inquest, counsel assisting Ian Harvey said on Monday. "The ATSB report includes a finding that it was very likely that pilot Ashley Jenkinson used cocaine around one-and-a-half days prior to the accident," Mr Harvey told the court. "Their conclusion is that the pilot Ashley Jenkinson was unlikely to have been directly affected by the drug at the time of the accident. "The word 'directly' is of some significance." Other issues to be addressed at the inquest would include the high frequency of Sea World helicopter flights as well as the design and control of landing sites, he said. Adequacy of training, radio equipment serviceability and effectiveness along with Sea World's air communication systems would also be examined, the coroner heard. One of the outstanding issues the safety bureau found was an antenna failure in one helicopter's radio that existed for days. One of the pilots tried to make a call to alert the other helicopter that they were leaving but it was never delivered to the other aircraft due to the fault, the safety bureau report said. The inquest is expected to run over a 10-day period from a date yet to be set.
Yahoo
26-05-2025
- Yahoo
Major detail in Sea World chopper crash probe
The widow of a Sea World Helicopters pilot, who was one of four killed in a horrific mid-air collision near the Gold Coast theme park, has appeared at a pre-inquest conference ahead of a coroner setting a tentative time frame to examine the tragedy. Kosha Richardson-Johnson is the widow of Sea World Helicopters chief pilot Ashley Jenkinson, whose death is partly the subject of high-profile coronial proceedings following the 2023 disaster. The tragedy unfolded when two Eurocopter EC130 helicopters departed from separate helipads for a joy flight over the Gold Coast strip just before 2pm on January 2, 2023. Both choppers collided mid-air above the Southport Broadwater – one attempting to land, the other taking off. Mr Jenkinson, Sydney mum Vanessa Tadros and British newlyweds Diane and Ronald Hughes all died in the crash. Ms Tadros' son Nicky, Victorian mum Winnie De Silva and her son Leon were seriously injured, but survived. Pilot Michael James, who was in the other helicopter, managed to land his badly damaged aircraft on the sand. He and five of his passengers were also injured. Dates for the inquest have not been set but Coroner Carol Lee on Monday indicated an inquest could begin by November this year. Ms Jenkinson sat quietly in the back of the Coroners Court in Brisbane as Ian Harvey, counsel assisting the coroner, ran through the issues Ms Lee would need to consider during the proceedings. He said following the collision, an 'intense' rescue and recovery effort was undertaken after the crash. The court was told the circumstances surrounding the collision have been the subject of heavy scrutiny investigation by the nation's transport safety watchdog and Queensland Police. Mr Harvey said there were a number of areas – including how the collision occurred and whether poor safety management systems were to blame – which overlapped with the Australian Transport Safety Bureau's investigation. 'However the ATSB is restrained legislatively from disclosing specific details of their investigation,' he said. 'A substantive issue concerns the way the air operator, Sea World Helicopters, was conducting its passenger air operations business on and before January 2, 2023. 'The focus here is the level, nature and efficacy of safety management systems in place concerning the conduct of those operations.' Sea World Helicopters staff and operators are expected to be called to give evidence in regards to this. Mr Harvey said the coronial process would allow further understanding if Sea World Helicopters undertook 'appropriate' safety assessments. Both helicopters involved in the crash had only been recently cleared for use by Sea World Helicopters, he said. The court was told each helicopter had a different steering side – and the inquest would need to examine what kind of training the pilots received in order to fly these aircraft. Mr Harvey said the ATSB found there were issues with transmissions on the day of the tragedy due to defects with the equipment on board the helicopters, including radios. 'This goes back to the issue of the certificate of airworthiness … one can assume someone has closely looked at all aspect of airworthiness of that aircraft, including the radio transmission systems ,' he said. 'It's noted from the report Sea World Helicopters has introduced a position of pad boss into their operations, and the results of that initiative can be explored further. 'Another … is whether the passengers on board were provided with adequate passenger safety briefings and fitted with seatbelts.' The court was told illicit drug use would also be an issue at the inquest – with Mr Harvey noting the ATSB found it was 'likely' Mr Jenkinson had consumed the drug cocaine days before the crash. But the ATSB concluded on the basis of toxicology reports that it was 'unlikely' Mr Jenkinson would have been directly affected by the drug on the day of the crash. 'This issue must be considered in the context of all evidence which will be placed before the court,' Mr Harvey said. Ms Lee gave parties a month to respond in writing to concerns around witness lists and proposed inquest dates, noting dates were available between November 24 to December 19. 'I would prefer to at least start – if we can't finish, at least start proceedings before the end of the year,' Ms Lee said as Mr Harvey noted December approached the court's closure over Christmas. The inquest was adjourned to a date to be fixed. The ATSB's final report into the crash, released last month, detailed numerous safety gaps were present and not addressed by Sea World Helicopters before the disaster took place. In its report, the ATSB said the system in place intended to warn pilots of the presence of another helicopter was 'flawed' – leading to both pilots not having an accurate understanding of where the other was. A 'conflict point' was created due to the helipads being in such proximity, the report states. 'Limitations in visibility from both helicopters and especially VH-XKQ (the departing chopper), combined with competing priorities and an understanding that the airspace was clear, led to a midair collision as both helicopters were passing through the conflict point created by the positioning of the helipads,' the report said. The ATSB found operator procedures for scenic flights were not 'wholly specific' to their operation – introducing variability in pilot decision-making and the conduct of scenic flights, which created additional confusion. 'The operator's system of radio calls, hand signals and conspicuity devices, intended to warn pilots of the presence of another helicopter, was flawed,' the report continues. 'As a result, both pilots formed an incorrect understanding about the location of the other helicopter.'
News.com.au
26-05-2025
- News.com.au
Widow of Sea World pilot Ashley Jenkinson appears at pre-inquest conference into mid-air collision as time frame for inquest set
The widow of a Sea World Helicopters pilot, who was one of four killed in a horrific mid-air collision near the Gold Coast theme park, has appeared at a pre-inquest conference ahead of a coroner setting a tentative time frame to examine the tragedy. Kosha Richardson-Johnson is the widow of Sea World Helicopters chief pilot Ashley Jenkinson, whose death is partly the subject of high-profile coronial proceedings following the 2023 disaster. The tragedy unfolded when two Eurocopter EC130 helicopters departed from separate helipads for a joy flight over the Gold Coast strip just before 2pm on January 2, 2023. Both choppers collided mid-air above the Southport Broadwater – one attempting to land, the other taking off. Mr Jenkinson, Sydney mum Vanessa Tadros and British newlyweds Diane and Ronald Hughes all died in the crash. Ms Tadros' son Nicky, Victorian mum Winnie De Silva and her son Leon were seriously injured, but survived. Pilot Michael James, who was in the other helicopter, managed to land his badly damaged aircraft on the sand. He and five of his passengers were also injured. Dates for the inquest have not been set but Coroner Carol Lee on Monday indicated an inquest could begin by November this year. Ms Jenkinson sat quietly in the back of the Coroners Court in Brisbane as Ian Harvey, counsel assisting the coroner, ran through the issues Ms Lee would need to consider during the proceedings. He said following the collision, an 'intense' rescue and recovery effort was undertaken after the crash. The court was told the circumstances surrounding the collision have been the subject of heavy scrutiny investigation by the nation's transport safety watchdog and Queensland Police. Mr Harvey said there were a number of areas – including how the collision occurred and whether poor safety management systems were to blame – which overlapped with the Australian Transport Safety Bureau's investigation. 'However the ATSB is restrained legislatively from disclosing specific details of their investigation,' he said. 'A substantive issue concerns the way the air operator, Sea World Helicopters, was conducting its passenger air operations business on and before January 2, 2023. 'The focus here is the level, nature and efficacy of safety management systems in place concerning the conduct of those operations.' Sea World Helicopters staff and operators are expected to be called to give evidence in regards to this. Mr Harvey said the coronial process would allow further understanding if Sea World Helicopters undertook 'appropriate' safety assessments. Both helicopters involved in the crash had only been recently cleared for use by Sea World Helicopters, he said. The court was told each helicopter had a different steering side – and the inquest would need to examine what kind of training the pilots received in order to fly these aircraft. Mr Harvey said the ATSB found there were issues with transmissions on the day of the tragedy due to defects with the equipment on board the helicopters, including radios. 'This goes back to the issue of the certificate of airworthiness … one can assume someone has closely looked at all aspect of airworthiness of that aircraft, including the radio transmission systems ,' he said. 'It's noted from the report Sea World Helicopters has introduced a position of pad boss into their operations, and the results of that initiative can be explored further. 'Another … is whether the passengers on board were provided with adequate passenger safety briefings and fitted with seatbelts.' The court was told illicit drug use would also be an issue at the inquest – with Mr Harvey noting the ATSB found it was 'likely' Mr Jenkinson had consumed the drug cocaine days before the crash. But the ATSB concluded on the basis of toxicology reports that it was 'unlikely' Mr Jenkinson would have been directly affected by the drug on the day of the crash. 'This issue must be considered in the context of all evidence which will be placed before the court,' Mr Harvey said. Ms Lee gave parties a month to respond in writing to concerns around witness lists and proposed inquest dates, noting dates were available between November 24 to December 19. 'I would prefer to at least start – if we can't finish, at least start proceedings before the end of the year,' Ms Lee said as Mr Harvey noted December approached the court's closure over Christmas. The inquest was adjourned to a date to be fixed. The ATSB's final report into the crash, released last month, detailed numerous safety gaps were present and not addressed by Sea World Helicopters before the disaster took place. In its report, the ATSB said the system in place intended to warn pilots of the presence of another helicopter was 'flawed' – leading to both pilots not having an accurate understanding of where the other was. A 'conflict point' was created due to the helipads being in such proximity, the report states. 'Limitations in visibility from both helicopters and especially VH-XKQ (the departing chopper), combined with competing priorities and an understanding that the airspace was clear, led to a midair collision as both helicopters were passing through the conflict point created by the positioning of the helipads,' the report said. The ATSB found operator procedures for scenic flights were not 'wholly specific' to their operation – introducing variability in pilot decision-making and the conduct of scenic flights, which created additional confusion. 'The operator's system of radio calls, hand signals and conspicuity devices, intended to warn pilots of the presence of another helicopter, was flawed,' the report continues.
Yahoo
09-04-2025
- Yahoo
Compensation push for helicopter crash scars and pain
A helicopter operator has been implored to come to the table over compensation claims for life-long scarring and anguish suffered in a deadly collision. After a final report was released into the crash between two aircraft on the Gold Coast, counsel for Shine Lawyers urged Sea World Helicopters to resolve the claims as soon as possible. Four people were killed and nine injured when two of the company's choppers collided above the Queensland city's Broadwater in January 2023. Pilot Ashley Jenkinson, 40, British couple Ron and Diane Hughes, 65 and 57, and Sydney mother Vanessa Tadros, 36, died in the crash. The Australian Transport Safety Bureau handed down its final report on Wednesday, finding limitation in visibility, failed radio transmissions and competing priorities all contributed to the crash. Many of the victims suffered serious injuries, lifelong scarring and life-changing anguish, Shine's national litigation specialist Roger Singh said. "No amount of money will give back what was taken from the victims of this crash, however we will ensure those responsible are held to account to the fullest extent," he said. "This was such a profoundly unnecessary loss of life which must be prosecuted fully to ensure it never happens again." Shine Lawyers had already filed a number of claims in the Brisbane Supreme Court for damages against Sea World Helicopters totalling millions of dollars, and are now determining whether the safety bureau's final report warrants additional claims. Claims for the helicopter passengers have been filed under the Civil Aviation (Carriers Liability) Act that caps damages at $925,000 per claimant. Mr Singh called on Sea World Helicopters to resolve the claims as soon as possible, following the report's findings. AAP has sought comment from Sea World Helicopters. The safety bureau's report noted the operator had rectified a number of issues identified with more work to be done, but Mr Singh hopes civil proceedings will further ensure the operator doubles down on safety protocols.
The Independent
09-04-2025
- General
- The Independent
Sea World helicopter crash report reveals the ‘significant' safety failings that caused deadly midair collision
The final report into a helicopter crash that killed four people, including a British couple, in Australia has revealed what led to the fatal accident. Britons Ron and Diane Hughes, from Liverpool, were visiting their daughter and grandchildren when they died in the crash at Sea World on the Gold Coast. Also killed in the January 2023 incident were Sea World Helicopters pilot Ashley Jenkinson, originally from Birmingham, and Sydney resident Vanessa Tadros. The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) has now published its report with 28 findings including 'significant flaws' in safety procedures. Chief Commissioner Angus Mitchell said: 'The most fundamental lesson from this investigation is that making changes to aviation operations, even those that appear to increase safety, can have unintended consequences. 'It is therefore critical that changes to aviation operations are managed through the implementation of a defined process to ensure overall safety is not adversely affected.' The report revealed that one of the pilots did not hear a vital radio call shortly before the accident and a series of changes by Sea World meant safety measures had weakened over time. There were also issues with a faulty radio antenna and limited visibility. Mr Mitchell noted that the operator had made a number of changes in the run-up to the accident, including larger EC130 helicopters, a new hangar and a second helipad. 'Over time, these changes undermined risk controls used to manage traffic separation and created a conflict point between launching and departing helicopters, which is where the two helicopters collided.' In the lead-up to the collision, an inbound call from the arriving helicopter did not register with the pilot of the departing helicopter, which was busy loading passengers. A ground crew member advised the pilot of the departing aircraft the airspace was clear. But this was no longer accurate by the time it took off as the inbound helicopter was continuing its approach to land. The departing pilot would also have had limited visibility to identify the approaching helicopter due to restrictions on manoeuvering at the helipad, the report found. The transport safety watchdog found that aviation operations should have multiple safety proceedures in place so as not to be vulnerable to single points of failure, such as faulty radios or a pilot's ability to detect another helicopter with visibility issues. Mr Mitchell said: 'While the operator did have in place a system of radio calls, hand signals and visibility devices that was intended to alert pilots of the presence of another helicopter, the investigation found that system to have significant flaws.' Both pilots would have had limited view of each other's aircrafts in the lead-up to the incident. This, combined with 'competing priorities' and the belief the airspace was clear, led to the collision. A report last year revealed that pilot Ashley Jenkinson had been using cocaine on New Year's Eve, days before the crash. The ATSB found the pilot would have had the opportunity to sleep and recover from any fatigue effects caused by cocaine withdrawal. But they warned: 'Cocaine is an illicit drug and as with all illicit drugs, the end user is unlikely to have any knowledge of the actual amount of drug in the product being used'. SeaWorld has made a number of changes since the accident, including a new 'pad boss' staff position to provide pilots with traffic advisory information, new radio call protocols, strobe lighting and high visibility paint on the helicopters.
