Queensland Army helicopter crash: MRH-90 Taipan black box is pulled out of sea after helicopter plunged into sea off Whitsundays
- A military helicopter disappeared last month
- They recovered the black box from the helicopter
- The four crew members are still missing.
The black box belonging to a downed army helicopter has been recovered weeks after the military helicopter crashed off the Queensland coast, killing four people.
The MRH-90 Taipan crashed off Hamilton Island while participating in a joint Australian-US military exercise on July 28.
His black box has been recovered and turned over to the Defense Force to assist in their investigation into the accident.
Captain Daniel Lyon, Lieutenant Maxwell Nugent, Petty Officer Class Two Joseph Laycock, and Corporal Alexander Naggs were killed in the incident.
they were all from the Richmond 6th Aviation Unit based at Holsworthy Army Barracks in sydney.
The search for their bodies continues, however a remotely operated vehicle discovered unidentified human remains 40 meters underwater in the rubble of the cabin at the crash site last Thursday.
The head of joint operations for the Australian Defense Force, Lieutenant General Greg Bilton, warned that final identification was unlikely to be possible until more remains were located.
The troop commander, Capt. Dan Lyon (pictured), was one of the crew of the MRH-90 Taipan.
“The debris field is consistent with a high catastrophic impact,” he said.
“Unfortunately, I can confirm that the remotely operated underwater vehicle has also observed unidentified human remains at this location.”
“Due to the nature of the debris field, positive identification of the remains is unlikely until we recover more remains.”
The army is providing ongoing support to the families of the victims.
Lt. Bilton added that the tragedy has had a “significant impact” on his unit.
“I’m sure your commanders are working hard to overcome the challenges they face in losing their comrades,” he said.
“We’re just making sure that we’re providing the kind of psychological support and support for their well-being that’s necessary.”
Corporal Alex Naggs, Lt. Maxwell Nugent and Warrant Officer Joseph Laycock (pictured left to right)
On July 28, the MRH-90 Taipan helicopter crashed into the ocean at around 10:30 p.m. during a two-helicopter operation.
Witnesses reported a “big flash, a big bang and a little bit of fire on top of the helicopter” before the plane hit the water.
It was part of Exercise Talisman Saber, a large-scale training operation involving several allied nations, including the United States.
The entire Taipan fleet was grounded while investigations into the accident continue.
The troubled plane has earned a reputation for being “unreliable” in recent years due to a series of incidents, including a crash in the waters off the south coast of New South Wales in March.
More to come.
