UPDATED: Collision of two helicopters in eastern Australian city of Gold Coast, 4 people dead, 9 Injured

 

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 UPDATE 1: Sea World helicopter collision witness says he feared one chopper would 'crash on top of crowd' as investigation gets underway.

A crash involving two helicopters that left four dead and nine injured on the Gold Coast on Monday could have been much worse if the pilots had not come down on a sandbar, a witness says.

The two aircraft, operated by Sea World Helicopters, had been undertaking flights over the Broadwater at Southport when witnesses said the tail of one chopper that had just taken off collided with the cockpit of another that appeared to be coming in to land.

The tail of the first helicopter broke off on impact, sending the aircraft plunging to the ground, while the other chopper crash landed upright on a sand bank, with major damage to the cockpit around the pilot's seating area.

The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) has sent investigators to the Gold Coast to look into the mid-air collision. Anyone who witnessed it has been asked to contact the agency. [https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-01-03/qld-sea-world-helicopter-crash-investigation-witness/101822666]
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The other helicopter managed to land safely, Queensland state police said in a statement.

At least four people have died and 13 people have been injured as a result of a collision of two helicopters on Monday near the eastern Australian city of Gold Coast, local media reported.

The collision occurred in mid-air as one helicopter was landing, while the other was trying to take off, according to Gold Cost Bulletin newspaper.

It is reported that at least three people were in critical condition following the crash.

The Queensland Ambulance Service said that emergency services had come to the scene of the accident.

The Gold Coast region is one of the nation’s most popular tourism spots and is at its busiest in January, the peak time for holidays in Australia.