WARNING: Distressing content material
Chilling footage has emerged from contained in the descending helicopter in Monday’s Gold Coast crash, and the second a vacationer raised the alarm when he seen something was wrong.
WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Second vacationer raises alarm seconds earlier than deadly GC helicopter crash
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Because the helicopter is available in to land, the individual filming pans throughout the surroundings earlier than one other passenger within the backseat factors to one thing in entrance of them.
That passenger is then seen bracing for affect by grabbing the pilot’s seat because the helicopter’s windshield shatters, sending glass by way of the cabin and the video ends. 7NEWS.com.au has chosen to not present the footage in full.
Onboard the helicopter had been Riaan and Elmarie Steenberg and Marle and Edward Swart, all from Auckland in New Zealand, pilot Michael James, and one other unnamed passenger.
Elmarie Steenberg posted on Fb on Wednesday afternoon confirming the group had been concerned within the crash.
“I’m nonetheless in hospital within the Gold Coast, recovering from my accidents,” she stated.
“All I can say is thanks to God for sparing all of us.”
The Steenbergs’ son, Enrico, took to Instagram to thank Michael James for the secure touchdown.
“Thx (sic) to the pilot for saving my dad and mom from the crash and all prayers to the household who misplaced their family members,” he wrote.
Australian Transport Security Bureau Chief Commissioner Angus Mitchell stated the helicopter that was taking off was within the air for lower than 20 seconds earlier than the crash.
“After the collision, it was a matter of seconds earlier than it hit the bottom,” he informed reporters.
“So it has unfolded in a short time.”
Mitchell stated it appeared the principle rotor blade of the helicopter that was taking off collided with the entrance cockpit of the descending helicopter, inflicting appreciable injury to the touchdown helicopter.
“Precisely whether or not that was the very first level of affect – we’re but to find out,” he stated.
“However that in itself has led to the principle rotor within the gearbox separating from the principle helicopter, which then had no raise and has fallen closely to the bottom.”
Outstanding touchdown
Mitchell stated the second helicopter coming in to land has remarkably managed to land upright.
Contemplating the injury that was performed to the entrance left-hand part the place pilot Michael James was sitting, he stated the touchdown was a “outstanding achievement”.
“We may have had a far worse scenario right here,” he stated. “The truth that one helicopter has been in a position to land has been outstanding.”
The ATSB has begun an investigation into the crash and continues to be piecing collectively the precise sequence of occasions.
Investigators shall be analyzing the wreckage and mapping the accident web site in addition to accumulating proof and interviewing witnesses.
Mitchell stated the take-off and touchdown phases of any plane operations are vital phases of flight.
The cognitive workload of pilots is the best presently, he stated.
“What we have to know now could be what was taking place in these two cockpits on the time.”
The investigation will look into the vary of visibility for each pilots and what precisely was taking place in each cabins on Monday afternoon.
