A40-040 – Fatal crash of a NHIndustries NH90 MRH Taipan off Lindeman Island, Whitsunday Islands, QLD

Date & Time:

28-JUL-2023

Type of aircraft:

NHIndustries NH90 MRH Taipan

Operator:

Australian Army

Flight Phase:

Manoeuvring (airshow, firefighting, ag.ops.)

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Unsure

Total Occupants:

4

Total fatalities:

–

Circumstances:

The Taipan, an Army MRH90 helicopter, faced a critical malfunction or operational challenge which led to its crashing into the ocean. The helicopter was engaged in a military training operation titled “Exercise Talisman Sabre” when the unfortunate event transpired. The exact cause of the crash remains under investigation. Given the specific region of the incident and the nature of the training operation, there may be multiple factors that contributed to this accident.

Persons Involved:

The helicopter was manned by four crew members, all of whom are currently missing and are feared to have lost their lives.

Search Operation Details:

• Search operations involve around 800 defense and emergency personnel.
• Specialist divers are scheduled to conduct a deep-sea search on Sunday.
• The search assets in operation include naval ships HMAS Brisbane, HMAS Adelaide, and HMAS Huon. Notably, HMAS Huon has onboard experienced divers equipped to conduct underwater search operations.

Recovered Items:

While parts of the helicopter wreckage have been retrieved as of Saturday, the crew members remain unaccounted for.

Additional Information:

The Queensland Police Service (QPS) advises any individual who locates potential debris related to the crash on nearby beaches to report it without delay and avoid touching or moving the items.