An Independent Inquiry has been launched to investigate the fatal helicopter crash of an Australian Defence Force helicopter, which killed four Defence personnel.
The ADF helicopter, the MRH-90 Taipan helicopter was undertaking training exercises in the Whitsundays as part as Exercise Talisman Sabre 2023, when it experienced catastrophic failure and crashed into waters near Lindeman Island, in July 2023.
The four Defence personnel onboard, Captain Danniel Lyon, Lieutenant Maxwell Nugent, Warrant Officer Class Two Joseph Laycock and Corporal Alexander Naggs perished in the accident.
The four ADF men were of the Sixth Aviation Regiment, based in Sydney, and were not recovered from the water with the wreckage for a number of days following the crash, due to rough water conditions.
The Inquiry is being led by an Assistant Inspector-General of the Australian Defence Force (IGADF), former Justice the Honourable Margaret McMurdo AC, who will be supported by two other Assistant IGADFs, Air Vice-Marshal Joe Iervasi, AM, CSC, (retd) and Colonel Jens Streit.
The Inquiry will investigate the cause of the incident and make recommendations to avoid or limit the risk of such an event occurring again.
The Inquiry will also investigate whether actions or inactions of personnel of the Australian Defence Force or other personnel were contributing factors into the crash.
The first public hearing was held earlier this week on Tuesday.
1: Wreckage was pulled out of the water in the days following the crash. Photo supplied
2: Lieutenant Maxwell Nugent, Captain Daniel Lyon, Warrant Officer Class 2 Joseph Laycock, and Corporal Alexander Naggs, the four personnel lost in the crash. Image supplied
