Sea World helicopter tragedy: Answers over crash 'tragedy' to be after two-year investigation

The findings from a two-year investigation into the deadly Sea World helicopter crash will be used to inform legal action for the families and victims of the collision, lawyers say.

Four people died and nine people were injured when two helicopters collided mid-air on the Gold Coast Broadwater in January 2023, during the peak of the busy summer holiday season.

The Australian Transport Safety Bureau will hand down its final report into the crash on Wednesday, more than two years after the collision.

It will offer an analysis of the evidence, findings of the cause of the crash and any recommended safety actions.

Shine Lawyers, who represent several people injured in the crash and those traumatised by what they witnessed, are keenly awaiting the report.

“This was a completely avoidable tragedy which has had a devastating impact on so many lives,” litigation specialist Roger Singh said on Tuesday.

Claims have been made against Sea World Helicopters of up to $925,000 per person and the release of the report will inform anu further action, Mr Singh said.

“We will examine the findings of this report with a view to identifying other potential defendants and further damages which may be sought,” he said.

“This was such a profoundly unnecessary loss of life which must be prosecuted fully to ensure it never happens again.”

The families of the victims have been waiting for two years to find out what caused the crash, although some evidence has already been revealed in previous reports.

An interim report released a year after the crash revealed that a toxicology report for pilot Ashley Jenkinson, who died in the crash, had traces of cocaine in his system.

The safety bureau noted it was unlikely the drug level would have impaired the pilot’s skills.

A preliminary report released in March 2023 found the other pilot, Michael James, saw six passengers boarding the second helicopter as he was coming in to land with five people on board at another helipad.

Mr James thought the second helicopter would pass behind his aircraft and didn’t remember the other pilot radioing him to say he was taking off.

A third helicopter pilot in the area recalled Mr James’ inbound call but did not remember hearing a taxi call from the other pilot.

A fourth pilot also couldn’t remember hearing calls from either of the helicopters before the crash.

Safety bureau commissioner Angus Mitchell noted in that report that the evidence didn’t necessarily mean that a taxiing call was not made, with the radio calls forming a central part of the final probe.

Mr Jenkinson, 40, British couple Ron and Diane Hughes, 65 and 57, and Sydney mother Vanessa Tadros, 36, died in the crash.

Ms Tadros’ son Nicholas, 10, underwent serious surgeries following the crash while Victorian mum Winnie de Silva, 33, and her nine-year-old son Leon were hospitalised.

The pilot of the second chopper, Mr James, managed to land his aircraft safely, but he and two of his passengers were injured by flying glass when its windshield shattered.