2023 Gold Coast mid-air collision
Helicopter collision in Queensland, Australia
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On 2 January 2023, two Eurocopter EC130s collided mid-air and crashed near Sea World theme park in the city of Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia. The collision killed four people and injured eight, three critically.[1][2][3][4]
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- Gold Coast Seaway, Queensland, Australia
- 27°57′41″S 153°25′23″E
The aftermath of VH-XH9 | |
| Occurrence | |
|---|---|
| Date | 2 January 2023, 1:59 pm AEST |
| Summary | Mid-air collision due to faulty radio |
| Site |
|
 | |
| Total fatalities | 4 |
| Total injuries | 8 |
| Total survivors | 9 |
| First aircraft | |
.jpg) A Eurocopter EC130 similar to the two helicopters involved in the collision | |
| Type | Eurocopter EC130 |
| Operator | Sea World Helicopters Pty Ltd |
| Registration | VH-XH9 |
| Flight origin | Sea World, Queensland, Australia |
| Destination | Sea World, Queensland, Australia |
| Occupants | 6 |
| Passengers | 5 |
| Crew | 1 |
| Fatalities | 0 |
| Injuries | 5 |
| Survivors | 6 |
| Second aircraft | |
| Type | Eurocopter EC130 |
| Operator | Sea World Helicopters Pty Ltd |
| Registration | VH-XKQ |
| Flight origin | Sea World, Queensland, Australia |
| Destination | Sea World, Queensland, Australia |
| Occupants | 7 |
| Passengers | 6 |
| Crew | 1 |
| Fatalities | 4 |
| Injuries | 3 |
| Survivors | 3 |
Collision
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 Hughes, 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] Of the three critically injured, all survived, though some with life changing injuries. Ten-year old Nicholas Tadros had multiple severe injuries, ultimately resulting in his leg being amputated;[17] Winnie had several broken bones, and her 9 year old son Leon De Silva suffered from head injuries.[18][19]
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.[20][21]
Sea World Helicopters Pty Ltd, the operator of the two helicopters involved, temporarily closed after the incident[6] but has since resumed operations.
Investigation
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]
| External videos | |
|---|---|
 Footage from inside the arriving helicopter |
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]
Final report
On 9 April 2025, the final report of the collision was released by the ATSB. The report found that the radio on the VH-XKQ, the departing helicopter, was faulty due to corrosion, and in the previous 2 days the vast majority of transmissions had failed. This meant the arriving pilot did not receive the take-off call; it's possible the departing pilot also did not receive the arriving call.[22] Additional contributory safety issues were attributed to Sea World Helicopters' operations and management, including a lax safety culture which meant that 5 previous near misses in the weeks leading up to the crash had been ignored. Pilot error was not found to be a factor.[23][24] At the time of publication, 4 of 11 safety issues identified by the ATSB as contributing to the accident had not yet been addressed.[25][22]
Inquest and lawsuits
An coroner's inquest took place in November 2025 into the deaths.[26] In December of 2025, critically injured survivor Winnie filed a lawsuits against multiple parties on behalf of herself and her son.[27] A lawsuit for wrongful death of the pilot Ashley Jenkinson against the Sea World Helicopters Pty Ltd was settled out of court in November 2025; the beneficiaries were his fiancée and their son.[28]