Eurocopter 120 was carrying five people when it went down near Hardy Reef in north Queensland

This article is more than 1 year old

This article is more than 1 year old

Two people have died in a helicopter crash off Queensland’s Whitsunday Islands, the Australian Transport Safety Bureau has said.

Five people were aboard the Eurocopter 120 when it went down near Hardy Reef pontoon at about 4.30pm on Wednesday, according to the Civil Aviation Safety Authority.

“A man and a woman who are believed to be international tourists were recovered from the helicopter and pronounced deceased at the scene,” a Queensland police statement said on Wednesday night.

One person is in a serious condition while the two others escaped with minor injuries. The three other people, including the male pilot and a male and female passenger, also believed to be from overseas, were to be taken by sea to a medical facility for treatment.

Police and other emergency service vessels headed to Hardy Reef with the crash site about 65km north-east of the Whitsundays.

The helicopter is believed to have hit the water 250 metres from the Hardy Reef pontoon.

The pontoon has underwater viewing chambers and the reef is popular with tourists because of its combination of reef, coral and fish life.

The ATSB said a crash investigation was being launched. “A team of transport safety investigators will soon travel to the accident location to commence the evidence collection phase of the investigation,” it said. “There, investigators will interview witnesses, examine any available recorded data, review operational records and technical documentation amongst other activities.”

An expected timeframe on the investigation won’t be known until the evidence collection phase is completed.</s>Two people have died in a helicopter crash off Queensland's Whitsunday Islands, it has been confirmed.

The Civil Aviation Safety Authority said five people were aboard the Eurocopter 120 which went down near Hardy Reef pontoon at about 4.30pm Wednesday.

One person is in a serious condition while two others escaped with minor injuries.

Police and other emergency service vessels are en route to Hardy Reef with the crash site about 65km northeast of the Whitsundays.

The helicopter is believed to have crashed into the water 250 metres from the Hardy Reef pontoon.

In a statement, the company that owns the helicopter, Whitsunday Air Services, confirmed the fatalities.

'Whitsunday Air Services can confirm that a tragic accident involving a Whitsunday Air Services helicopter carrying four passengers and one crew member has occurred at Hardy Reef today,' the statement said.

'The accident occurred while the helicopter was on final approach for a landing at it's Hardy Reef Heliport and resulted in two fatalities and two passengers sustaining minor injuries.

'We are extremely saddened by this incident and our deepest condolences are with the families of all of the passengers. Whitsunday Air Services is continuing to work with the Queensland Police, the ATSB and CASA to assist with their investigations.

'Whitsunday Air Services will be suspending all operations while a full review process is undertaken. Further information will be released in due course.'

The helicopter was reportedly fully submerged when it crashed into the water, but passengers managed to escape the wreckage.

Queensland Ambulance Service paramedics rushed to the scene via emergency helicopter about 6pm.

Paramedics were providing CPR instructions to witnesses over the phone, en-route to the scene.

The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) told Daily Mail Australia a team of investigators would travel to the accident location to collect evidence.

Investigators will interview witnesses, examine available recorded data, review operational records and technical documentation.</s>Two people have died in a helicopter crash off Queensland’s Whitsunday Islands, the Australian Transport Safety Bureau has said.

Five people were aboard the Eurocopter 120 when it went down near Hardy Reef pontoon at about 4.30pm on Wednesday, according to the Civil Aviation Safety Authority.

One person is in a serious condition while the two others escaped with minor injuries.

Police and other emergency service vessels headed to Hardy Reef with the crash site about 65km north-east of the Whitsundays.

The helicopter is believed to have hit the water 250 metres from the Hardy Reef pontoon.

The pontoon has underwater viewing chambers and the reef is popular with tourists because of its combination of reef, coral and fish life.

The ATSB said a crash investigation was being launched. “A team of transport safety investigators will soon travel to the accident location to commence the evidence collection phase of the investigation,” it said. “There, investigators will interview witnesses, examine any available recorded data, review operational records and technical documentation amongst other activities.”

An expected timeframe on the investigation won’t be known until the evidence collection phase is completed.

It’s unclear at this stage if the flight was a private charter to the popular tourist destination.</s>Two dead after helicopter crashes off Queensland coast The West Australian

The chopper had five people on board when it came down near Hardy Reef.</s>Two people have died in a helicopter crash off Queensland's Whitsunday Islands.

The Civil Aviation Safety Authority says five people were aboard the Eurocopter 120 which went down near Hardy Reef pontoon at about 4.30pm on Wednesday.

One person is in a serious condition while the two others have escaped with minor injuries.

Police and other emergency service vessels are en route to Hardy Reef with the crash site about 65km northeast of the Whitsundays.

The helicopter is believed to have crashed into the water 250 metres from the Hardy Reef pontoon.</s>A newlywed couple from Hawaii were on the honeymoon of their dreams when they died after a helicopter plummeted into the ocean near the Great Barrier Reef.

Pete, 79, and Sue Hensel, 65, married in December and planned a 'trip of a lifetime' when they were killed in the tragic helicopter crash over the Whitsunday islands, The Courier Mail reported.

Two people from Colorado, believed to be Sue's daughter, 33, and her partner, 34, survived the crash along with the 35-year-old local Australian pilot.

Heroic witnesses risked their lives to pluck the passengers from the wreckage of the helicopter as it sunk.

The helicopter pilot pulled Ms Hensel from the helicopter but desperate CPR attempts failed. Mr Hensel also died at the scene.

The pair, who had been single 'forever', shared a 'beautiful story' and were 'so happy' when they found each other, Vern Ungerecht - Pete's lifelong friend - told the publication.

'We used to have drinks with them at the bar almost every day. Pete doesn't say much, but Sue, she was always chatting and smiling,' Mr Ungerecht said.

'For them to go doing something they had looked forward to for so long, we can take some pleasure in that.'

Ms Hansel worked for a bookkeeping service while her new husband was retired.

The helicopter was on its final approach towards a landing pontoon some 65km north-east of Whitsunday Islands.

It is not known exactly what caused the accident, but moments later the helicopter and all on board plunged into the water just meters away from its target.

Queensland Police District Inspector Ian Haughton confirmed the deaths of the two American tourists on Thursday following the crash off Hardy Reef Pontoon who were known to the two survivors.

'It was a normal flight ... on this occasion, something went wrong and the consequences are tragic,' Insp Haughton told media.

'This is a traumatic experience for any involved in the situation.'

The crash is the second incident in four months for the helicopter company, ABC News reported.

In November last year, Hamilton Island Air - a registered business of Whitsunday Air Services - was involved in a crash off Hamilton Island.

The three passengers survived but the helicopter sank and has not been recovered.

Onlookers tried to save the passengers at the Whitsundays crash site while listening to instructions in a phone call with paramedics just after 4pm Wednesday.

The older couple were pronounced dead at the scene after they were recovered from the helicopter.

The three survivors were transported by sea for medical attention and treated for non-life threatening injuries.

The helicopter reportedly crashed into the water 250 metres from the Hardy Reef pontoon.

Whitsunday Air Services confirmed the fatalities in a statement on Wednesday night.

'Whitsunday Air Services can confirm that a tragic accident involving a Whitsunday Air Services helicopter carrying four passengers and one crew member has occurred at Hardy Reef today,' the statement said.

'The accident occurred while the helicopter was on final approach for a landing at it's Hardy Reef Heliport and resulted in two fatalities and two passengers sustaining minor injuries.

'We are extremely saddened by this incident and our deepest condolences are with the families of all of the passengers. Whitsunday Air Services is continuing to work with the Queensland Police, the ATSB and CASA to assist with their investigations.

'Whitsunday Air Services will be suspending all operations while a full review process is undertaken. Further information will be released in due course.'

The helicopter was fully submerged in water.

Queensland Ambulance Service paramedics rushed to the scene via emergency helicopter about 6pm.

Whitsunday Mayor Andrew Wilcox told ABC radio the community was devastated by the accident.

'It will be a sombre day for us in the Whitsundays. My thoughts and prayers at this stage are with the families affected by this,' he said.

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk told parliament on Thursday the families involved should know 'how deeply (they) feel their loss'.

The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) told Daily Mail Australia a team of investigators would travel to the accident location to collect evidence on Thursday morning.

Investigators will interview witnesses, examine available recorded data, review operational records and technical documentation.</s>Two people are dead after a helicopter crash at the Whitsunday Islands off north Queensland on Wednesday afternoon.

Another occupant was seriously injured and two other people suffered minor injuries in the accident, the Civil Aviation Safety Authority told Fairfax Media.

The helicopter, a Eurocopter EC120 Colibri, was believed to have crashed into the water near a pontoon at Hardy's Reef, a popular tourist spot, about 4.30pm.

The crash site was about 65 kilometres north-east of Hamilton Island.

Paramedics gave witnesses on the ground first aid instructions over the phone, according to a Queensland Ambulance Service spokesman.</s>There are reports two people have died in a helicopter crash at the Whitsunday Islands off north Queensland on Wednesday afternoon.

Two were feared dead, another occupant was seriously injured and two other people suffered minor injuries, the Civil Aviation Safety Authority told Fairfax Media.

The helicopter, a Eurocopter EC120 Colibri, was believed to have crashed into the water near a pontoon at Hardy's Reef, a popular tourist spot, about 4.30pm.

The crash site was about 65 kilometres north-east of the Whitsundays, with police en route.

A police vessel and other craft were heading to the site, along with other emergency services.

The Cruise Whitsundays luxury tour vessel had been heading back to the mainland but turned around and was on its way to the crash, a Volunteer Marine Rescue Whitsundays spokeswoman told Fairfax Media.

MORE TO COME</s>Two American tourists are dead and two other tourists are injured after a sightseeing helicopter crashed near the Great Barrier Reef in Queensland, Australia, police said.

The crash occurred just after 3:30 p.m. Wednesday local time, off the Whitsunday Islands, a cluster of islands near the barrier reef that is a popular tourist destination.

For reasons yet to be determined, the helicopter — carrying five people — went down into the water near a large pontoon for snorkelers and divers close to the barrier reef, police said.

Two passengers, a 65-year-old woman and a 79-year-old man, were pronounced dead at the scene; a 33-year-old woman and a 34-year-old man were taken to the hospital with injuries that were not life-threatening, police said.

The pilot, a 35-year-old man, also was injured, police said. After the crash, the pilot helped remove the 65-year-old woman, who was seated in the front passenger seat, from the aircraft while it was partly submerged, police said.

As the helicopter sank, frantic witnesses from the nearby Heart Pontoon rushed to try to save the passengers, pulling them out of the water and performing CPR, according to the Courier Mail, an Australian newspaper.

At a news conference Wednesday, Queensland police inspector Ian Haughton said the four passengers knew one another, but he did not offer more details or identities, pending the notification of next of kin.

The two younger passengers who were injured are from Colorado, while the two deceased passengers were from Hawaii, according to the Associated Press.

The Heart Pontoon serves as a base for snorkelers and scuba divers exploring the nearby Hardy Reef, part of the Great Barrier Reef. The boat is surrounded by smaller pontoons used for helicopter landings, Haughton said.

Although local media outlets described the crash as resulting from a botched landing onto one of those smaller pontoons, Haughton said it was too soon to determine what had caused the helicopter to go down. An investigation will include the Australian Transport Safety Bureau.

“This is a traumatic experience for anyone involved in the situation,” Haughton said, noting that the two older passengers had received medical attention “for some time” before they were pronounced dead. “For those people that were on board [who survived], you couldn't begin to imagine the impact on those people.”

Haughton added that several helicopters are used throughout Queensland every day, for tourism and non-tourism purposes, and that there was nothing unusual about this trip.

“It was a normal flight operated by the operator to the reef,” he said. “On this occasion, something went wrong and the consequences are tragic.”

The flight was operated by a local tour company called Whitsunday Air Services, which said in a statement that it was suspending all services and cooperating with police.

“We are extremely saddened by this incident and our deepest condolences are with the families of all of the passengers,” the company said.

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How a flight diverted by the nor’easter became a 9-hour bus ride — and left two travelers hospitalized</s>Two people have been confirmed dead and three others are injured after a helicopter crashed off Queensland's Whitsunday Islands.
A Eurocopter 120 helicopter carrying five people crashes into the sea near Hardy Reef off the Whitsunday Islands, Queensland, Australia. Two people are killed.