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| Australia helicopter collision: Pilot did not recall hearing radio call - report | Australia helicopter collision: Pilot did not recall hearing radio call - report |
| (12 days later) | |
| Two Australians and a British couple died in the mid-air crash | Two Australians and a British couple died in the mid-air crash |
| A helicopter pilot said he did not hear a vital radio call shortly before a deadly mid-air collision in Australia, according to an interim report. | A helicopter pilot said he did not hear a vital radio call shortly before a deadly mid-air collision in Australia, according to an interim report. |
| The report also said the pilots may not have been able to see each other. | The report also said the pilots may not have been able to see each other. |
| The two helicopters collided off the Gold Coast in January, killing four people and injuring several. | The two helicopters collided off the Gold Coast in January, killing four people and injuring several. |
| One helicopter, which had just taken off, ended up crashing. The other, which was returning, managed to land with heavy damage. | One helicopter, which had just taken off, ended up crashing. The other, which was returning, managed to land with heavy damage. |
| The aircraft were used for short sightseeing trips by Sea World Helicopters. | The aircraft were used for short sightseeing trips by Sea World Helicopters. |
| The report released by the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) details the calls made by Michael James, who was piloting the returning helicopter. | The report released by the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) details the calls made by Michael James, who was piloting the returning helicopter. |
| He said he saw passengers boarding the other helicopter as it was preparing to depart. He did not see it take off, but he thought it would pass behind him. | He said he saw passengers boarding the other helicopter as it was preparing to depart. He did not see it take off, but he thought it would pass behind him. |
| He told investigators he "did not recall the pilot [of the other helicopter] making a standard taxiing call, thereby announcing their intentions to depart", according to the report. | He told investigators he "did not recall the pilot [of the other helicopter] making a standard taxiing call, thereby announcing their intentions to depart", according to the report. |
| The ATSB said this did not mean a taxiing call was not made, and that they would carry out a detailed analysis of radio activity at the time of the crash. | The ATSB said this did not mean a taxiing call was not made, and that they would carry out a detailed analysis of radio activity at the time of the crash. |
| The pilot of the departing helicopter, 40-year-old Ashley Jenkinson, was killed in the crash. | The pilot of the departing helicopter, 40-year-old Ashley Jenkinson, was killed in the crash. |
| Footage later emerged of a passenger trying to warn a pilot that another aircraft was approaching. | Footage later emerged of a passenger trying to warn a pilot that another aircraft was approaching. |
| But the report said this did not mean that the two pilots had seen each other's helicopters. | But the report said this did not mean that the two pilots had seen each other's helicopters. |
| The two aircraft collided at a height of 130ft (39 metres), with the rotor blades of Mr Jenkinson's helicopter smashing into the cabin of the other, the report said. | The two aircraft collided at a height of 130ft (39 metres), with the rotor blades of Mr Jenkinson's helicopter smashing into the cabin of the other, the report said. |
| Mr Jenkinson's helicopter broke apart and crashed into shallow water just off the shore, killing him and three passengers. | Mr Jenkinson's helicopter broke apart and crashed into shallow water just off the shore, killing him and three passengers. |
| The ATSB said the "complex and comprehensive" investigation will scrutinise operating procedures to identify any underlying safety issues. | The ATSB said the "complex and comprehensive" investigation will scrutinise operating procedures to identify any underlying safety issues. |
| The helicopters were flying in non-controlled airspace, where pilots use a common radio frequency to communicate with other aircraft, the ATSB said. | The helicopters were flying in non-controlled airspace, where pilots use a common radio frequency to communicate with other aircraft, the ATSB said. |
| The victims included a British couple, 65-year-old Ron and 57-year-old Diane Hughes from Cheshire, who were holidaying in Queensland at the time, police said. | The victims included a British couple, 65-year-old Ron and 57-year-old Diane Hughes from Cheshire, who were holidaying in Queensland at the time, police said. |
| Australian woman Vanessa Tadros, 36, also died in the crash, and her 10-year-old son Nicholas was among the seriously injured survivors. | Australian woman Vanessa Tadros, 36, also died in the crash, and her 10-year-old son Nicholas was among the seriously injured survivors. |