Accident Eurocopter EC 130B4 VH-XKQ, 02 Jan 2023
IFA Comment: Our condolences to all those affected by this accident. A tragic start to 2023. Accident investigators will look deeply into how such a mid-air collision could have happen. It is no compensation but this fatal accident could have been worse. It is notable that, despite a great deal of damage, one helicopter did manage to land.
Two Eurocopter EC 130B4 helicopters of Sea World Helicopters suffered a mid-air collision near Sea World Heliport (YSWD), Main Beach, Queensland.
VH-XKQ was departing Sea World Heliport when it was struck by the approaching VH-XH9 and it crashed nose down onto a sand bank and VH-XH9 made an emergency landing on the same sand bank with severe damage to the cockpit section.
Four of the seven occupants died and three received critical injuries. Five of the six occupants of the VH-XH9 received minor injuries by cockpit glass debris.
