The coronial inquest into the fatal Sea World helicopter collision on the Gold Coast has heard evidence from the chief executive of Surfers Paradise Helicopters, formerly known as Sea World Helicopters, who told the court he believes pilot distraction was the primary cause of the crash that claimed four lives in January 2023.
Appearing before the Brisbane Coroners Court, CEO Brett Newman said chief pilot Ashley Jenkinson was "totally distracted" during take-off while interacting with passengers seated in the front of the helicopter. Newman told the court he believed Jenkinson focused on people and boats to his left instead of checking for aircraft approaching from the right before departing the helipad.
The collision occurred on 2 January 2023 above the Gold Coast Broadwater when Jenkinson's departing sightseeing helicopter collided with another company helicopter that was returning to land. Jenkinson and three passengers—Ron Hughes, Diane Hughes and Vanessa Tadros—were killed. The second pilot, Michael James, managed to land his badly damaged helicopter safely, and all six people on board survived.
Newman told the inquest that had Jenkinson looked properly along his flight path, he would have seen the approaching helicopter. He said the conflict point was well known to company pilots and required careful visual checks before every departure. According to Newman, the accident could not have occurred if those standard procedures had been followed.
The inquest also heard evidence relating to cocaine use by Jenkinson approximately 35 hours before the crash. Newman said he had no knowledge of the drug use and told the court the pilot would have been dismissed immediately had the company been aware. He described operating an aircraft while affected by drugs as a gross breach of aviation safety rules.
During questioning, Newman rejected suggestions that the company's safety systems had failed. He maintained that the helicopters were operating under established procedures and argued that no technology or additional safety equipment could replace a pilot's responsibility to visually clear the flight path before take-off.
The company has nevertheless introduced a number of additional safety measures since the accident. These include more frequent employee drug testing, enhanced high-visibility lighting and rotor markings on helicopters, along with other operational changes designed to improve aircraft visibility and reduce collision risks.
Lawyers representing victims' families questioned why some of those additional safety measures, including the possible use of a ground observer to monitor aircraft movements, had not been implemented before the crash. Newman responded that the company believed its experienced pilots could safely manage departures by following established procedures and maintaining proper visual awareness.
The inquest is continuing and is expected to hear further evidence from aviation experts, investigators and other witnesses before the coroner determines whether additional recommendations should be made to improve helicopter tourism safety in Australia.
