By Lucy Loram, ABC News
Airport workers prepare to remove a crashed helicopter that collided with another helicopter in 2023. Photo: AFP PHOTO / ABC
Survivors of a helicopter crash that killed four people on Queensland's Gold Coast have recalled the moment the two choppers collided mid-air at Sea World, as footage of the incident played out before the families of the victims in court.
An inquest into the fatal crash begun in Queensland Coroners Court, with more than 30 witnesses expected to be called upon during the two-week long proceedings.
On 2 January 2023, one Sea World Helicopter taking off collided with another that was landing from a joy flight near the popular theme park, falling in a heap before a crowd of holiday makers.
Chief pilot Ashley Jenkinson, New South Wales woman Vanessa Tadros, and UK couple Ron and Diane Hughes were killed in the crash, while three passengers were critically injured.
The other aircraft, being piloted by Michael James, landed nearby.
Two helicopters rest in water after colliding in mid-air, killing four. Photo: AFP PHOTO / ABC
'The shaking was just terrible'
Winnie De Silva told the court she had booked a helicopter ride for herself and her son "spur-of-the-moment" while visiting Sea World.
De Silva, who was in the aircraft flown by Jenkinson, said she did not see the other helicopter when it crashed into their aircraft.
"Once I heard the bang, and shaking started happening, and things started falling on our faces, that's when I realised we weren't going to be safe … the shaking was just terrible," De Silva told the court.
"When it started shaking, I was so worried, I was holding my son.
"It was steaming in a way that was so uncomfortable, I just remember closing my eyes and telling my son to do the same."
De Silva told the court that when she regained consciousness, she was trapped under part of the helicopter.
"There was hot [machinery] on my body, and I was screaming for help."
De Silva told the court her shoulder was "still injured" from being pinned down by the wreckage.
Jessie Maya, who bought a single ticket and was a passenger of the VH-XH9 flight piloted by James, told the court he was "in shock" during the "traumatic" incident.
"It was a big blur for me, once the collision hit, I really don't know much… I don't know how I got out of the helicopter."
Ashley Jenkinson. Photo: Supplied/ Facebook: Sea World Helicopters
Video of crash played in court
Maya filmed the moment the two Sea World Helicopters crashed, which formed part of a video montage that was played during the opening remarks of the inquest.
Counsel Assisting Ian Harvey gave family members in the court's gallery a chance to leave before footage from the phone of Maya played out on screen.
The footage showed the inside of one of the helicopters, as glass shattered when it collided with another.
The montage cut to CCTV footage that showed the helicopter piloted by Jenkinson plummet to the ground.
"The fundamental question is how could that situation unfold between two highly experienced pilots?" Harvey told the court.
A preliminary report from the Australian Transport Safety Bureau released in 2023 found James, the other helicopter pilot who managed to land safely, had not heard the call over the radio by Jenkinson, who was taking off.
In April this year, a further report from the ATSB determined a faulty radio antenna contributed to the deadly crash, with "limited opportunities" for the pilots to detect each other.
Throughout the opening remarks, Harvey described the area around Sea World as "one of the busiest air corridors in the country".
He also told the court the two aircraft involved in the crash had been added to the fleet in December 2022, a factor that would be explored over the inquest.
"Did the commercial imperative to have these new additions to the Sea World helicopter fleet entered into service before Christmas 2022 override full consideration of numerous safety factors?"
Officer says scene was 'absolute chaos'
Detective Sergeant Dave Sheraton, who was the senior detective on the scene, told the court "more lives would have been lost if it wasn't for the first responders".
Sergeant Justin Dunn who was with the Gold Coast Water Police on the day of the crash, recounted to the court hearing a "very garbled" mayday call around 1:55pm on 2 January, before being called to the crash minutes later.
Sergeant Dunn told the court he saw the overturned aircraft when he arrived at the scene.
"[It was] absolute chaos, it really was."
Sergeant Dunn recalled attending to those injured in the "mangled wreck" including Winnie De Silva who was trapped under part of the helicopter.
Sergeant Dunn teared up as lawyers for Vanessa Tadros's family thanked him for his service.
Senior Sergeant Duane Killick who was off duty and visiting the theme park on the day of the crash, told the court he had noticed the aircraft flying close to each other.
"I thought to myself, 'it must be an optical illusion that they look that close' and then they impacted," he told the court.
The inquest continues.
- ABC
