An aviation lawyer has described the Sea World Helicopters mid-air collision as “an accident waiting to happen” after the final Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) report revealed a series of systemic failures.

The January 2023 tragedy claimed four lives — including pilot Ash Jenkinson, UK tourists Ron and Diane Hughes, and Sydney mother Vanessa Tadros — and left nine others seriously injured.

The ATSB found that faulty radios, poor visibility, and flawed communication processes contributed to the fatal collision above the Gold Coast’s Broadwater. Lawyer Peter Carter said some failures, such as a radio malfunction, may not have been obvious, but others should have been anticipated with “five minutes’ thought” given the intensity of the operation in congested airspace.

He criticised both Sea World Helicopters and the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) for failing to manage the risks, arguing a proper airspace utilisation model should have been implemented and enforced.

Litigation specialist Roger Singh added the crash represented a “profoundly unnecessary loss of life which must be prosecuted fully to ensure it never happens again.” Shine Lawyers, representing victims, is reviewing the findings as part of ongoing legal action.

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7News – Legal expert slams ‘litany of errors’ leading to deadly Sea World chopper crash