Overview
- Two Sea World joy‑flight helicopters collided near the Gold Coast theme park on January 2, 2023, killing pilot Ashley Jenkinson and three tourists and injuring nine people when one aircraft fell about 40 metres onto a sandbar.
- An Australian Transport Safety Bureau report given at the inquest documented specific airworthiness gaps, including a faulty radio antenna and discrepancies between maintenance records and the components actually fitted to the helicopters.
- Aviation medicine expert Dr Jeffrey Brock told the court he believed Jenkinson was likely mildly impaired by recent cocaine use, alcohol and sleep loss and that he showed signs of emotional distress before the crash.
- Families of the victims made emotional statements on the inquest’s final day, describing long‑term trauma for survivors including a child who lost a leg and the deep grief of relatives of the three tourists who died.
- Coroner Carol Lee will spend the coming months drafting a formal report and the parties have until October to lodge written submissions, with the findings expected to guide any regulatory or safety changes.