Key Points
- Four people are missing after an ADF helicopter crashed into waters off Queensland during joint military exercises.
- The MRH-90 Taipan helicopter went down at about 10.30pm on Friday, Defence Minister Richard Marles confirmed.
- A search is underway to find the crew, and their families have been notified.
A major search involving Australian and international personnel, police and civilians has been unable to find an army helicopter that hit the water with four soldiers on board.
There are grave fears for the lives of the crew involved in the crash, identified on Sunday as Captain Daniel Lyon, Lieutenant Maxwell Nugent, Warrant Officer Class Two Joseph Laycock and Corporal Alexander Naggs.
Royal Australian Navy sailors from HMAS Brisbane prepare to board a Rigid-Hulled Inflatable Boat to conduct search and rescue operations in the vicinity of Lindeman Island, Queensland, on 29 July 2023. Source: AAP / PR image
The MRH-90 helicopter had been conducting joint military training as a part of Exercise Talisman Sabre.
Australian Army chief Simon Stuart said the men were from the 6th Aviation Regiment based at Holsworthy Barracks in Sydney.
"They're part of a really tight team, a very highly professional, highly skilled aviation unit," he told reporters on Sunday.
"I couldn't be more proud of them - as professionals, as soldiers and as people."
Australia's allies, navy divers join search
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese thanked all those involved in the search, saying the incident was a stark reminder that there were "no safe or easy days for those who serve in our country's name".
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese makes a statement on the Australian Defence Force helicopter crash during Operation Talisman Sabre, at Parliament House in Canberra, on Sunday, 30 July 2023. Source: AAP / Mick Tsikas
The desperate hunt for survivors from the Taipan helicopter crash resumed on Sunday, with navy divers joining the rescue and recovery operation.
Debris found as search for four crew members continues
Some debris from the stricken helicopter was recovered on Saturday and Queensland police urged members of the public who found crash material in the Whitsunday region to contact investigators.
An Army MRH-90 Taipan multi-role helicopter. Source: AAP / DEAN LEWINS/AAPIMAGE
"HMAS Huon has some of our more experienced divers should we need to look under the water for wreckage as the search and rescue continues."
Royal Australian Navy sailors from HMAS Brisbane on the bridge wing scan the horizon during search and rescue operations in the vicinity of Lindeman Island, Queensland, on 29 July 2023. Source: AAP / LSEW Hannah Linsley
"For those service members, those veterans, and those members of the community that are suffering as a consequence of this ... I ask that you reach out to the relevant support networks," he said.
He said he had paused the exercises to allow personnel to contact family.
"I wanted people to contact their families to let them know they were safe and what was happening," he said.
Brigadier Hill confirmed 47 MRH-90 helicopters had been grounded until further notice, although details of what might have led to Friday's crash have not been revealed.
What was the helicopter doing when it crashed?
The aircraft was involved in Exercise Talisman Sabre, a training operation that involves defence forces from Australia, the United States and other allies. The operation has been put on hold following the crash.
Mr Marles said the missing helicopter was taking part in a mission that involved a second chopper, which immediately started a search and rescue operation.
"Defence exercises which are so necessary for the readiness of our defence force are serious, they carry risk," he told reporters on Saturday in Brisbane.
"As we desperately hope for better news during the course of this day we are reminded about the gravity of the act which comes with wearing our nation's uniform."
Defence chiefs offer support
Chief of the Defence Force General Angus Campbell said Queensland authorities, members of the public and US personnel were taking part in the search.
"Our focus at the moment is finding our people and supporting their families and the rest of our team, this is indeed a terrible moment," he said.
A CQ Rescue crew spotted debris near Dent Island early on Saturday morning.
US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin offered his support while speaking at high-level strategic talks in Brisbane.
"It's always tough when you have accidents in training," Mr Austin said.
"The reason why we train to such high standards is so that we can be successful, we can protect lives when we are called to answer any kind of crisis."
Incident is second Taipan crash this year
It is the second time an Australian MRH-90 has been involved in an emergency this year after a Taipan ditched into waters off the NSW south coast in March.
The helicopter has earned a reputation as unreliable in recent years, with malfunctions and technical issues forcing several earlier groundings of the fleet.
Nationals leader David Littleproud called for an "open and transparent" inquiry into the incident.
The Taipan helicopter has earned a reputation as unreliable in recent years, with malfunctions and technical issues forcing several groundings of Australia's fleet. Credit: LSIS James McDougall / PR IMAGE
"(We should be) making sure that we give our defence force the very best tools that they need to be able to defend us," he told Nine's Today program.
Labor frontbencher Michelle Rowland said the focus at this stage should be on the missing personnel and their families, but there would be a full investigation into what led up to the crash.
The Talisman Sabre training operation involves defence forces from Australia, the United States and other allies.
Talisman Sabre comprises two weeks of war games involving more than 30,000 troops and participants from 11 other countries, in a show of force and unity amid China's military build-up in the region.
The joint exercises, which are mostly being held in regional Queensland, resumed late on Saturday in the Northern Territory and West Australia after an initial pause following the accident.
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