Australian Defence Force Chief of Joint Operations Lieutenant General Greg Bilton stated the stays have been discovered with the wreckage of the MRH-90 Taipan helicopter’s cockpit, on the seabed, 40m deep.
“Yesterday afternoon, Wednesday the 2 August, HMO AES remotely operated an underwater vehicle which located a further debris field including parts of the cockpit of the helicopter,” Bilton stated.
“Sadly I can confirm unidentified human remains have also been observed in this location by the remotely-operated underwater vehicle.
“Due to the character of the particles area optimistic recognized location of the stays is unlikely to happen till we get well extra of the wreckage.”
Australian Army Chief Lieutenant General Simon Stuart, Captain Danniel Lyon, Lieutenant Maxwell Nugent, Corporal Alexander Naggs, and Warrant Officer Joseph Laycock were on board.
All four aviators are from the 6th aviation regiment based at the Holsworthy army barracks in Sydney.
Divers have not yet found the black box flight recorder however which could provide answers to what happened.
There were no signs of anything wrong in communications with the aircraft, which crashed almost a week ago during the Talisman Sabre military exercises with the USA near the Whitsundays.
”It’s a tough activity however we are going to do our very best to search out it,” Bilton said.
The operation is being impacted by bad weather and strong currents.
Bilton said he was “devastated” and said the tragedy is having a “important impression” on colleagues.
The fleet of 23 MRH-90 Taipans helicopters were grounded after the crash for the second time.
Source: www.9news.com.au
