Search becomes recovery mission for bodies of missing soldiers after chopper crash

Search becomes recovery mission for bodies of missing soldiers after chopper crash
Defence minister Richard Marles stated “significant wreckage” of the MRH-90 Taipan plane has been found after the helicopter went down close to Lindeman Island, which is close to Hamilton Island, at about 11pm on Friday in the course of the Talisman Sabre army workout routines

Those onboard and lacking have been recognized yesterday as Captain Daniel Lyon, Lieutenant Maxwell Nugent, Corporal Alexander Naggs, and Warrant Officer Joseph Laycock.

Australian Army Chief Lieutenant General Simon Stuart revealed those missing as Captain Daniel Lyon, Lieutenant Maxwell Nugent, Warrant Officer Class Two Joseph Laycock and Corporal Alexander Naggs.
Australian Army Chief Lieutenant General Simon Stuart revealed these lacking as Captain Daniel Lyon, Lieutenant Maxwell Nugent, Warrant Officer Class Two Joseph Laycock and Corporal Alexander Naggs. (Nine)

“With every passing hour, it is now clear any hope of finding Captain Lyon, Lieutenant Nugent, Corporal Naggs and Warrant Office Laycock alive has been lost,” Marles stated.

“The tragedies that have taken place in the Whitsundays have transferred from those being of search and rescue to an activity of recovery.”

Marles stated there will probably be a full and thorough investigation into the crash however for now, the federal government and defence power stands with the households of the boys.

“They will spend the rest of our lives with an unfavourable hole,” Marles stated.

“To them, we are so deeply sorry and so grateful.

“They have each proper to really feel an intense sense of pleasure.

Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles
Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles stated the search mission is now a restoration mission. (9News)

“Amidst the inadequacy of these words that, I wanted to know they stand in the warm embrace of the entire nation.”

Marles stated defence exercises are critical and carry a “dangerous” danger however play a “critical part in providing for the collective security and peace of the region in which we live”.

Marles stated the helicopters have been licensed to fly however within the meantime have been grounded whereas the investigation is underway.

”In the meantime, our fleet of MRH-90s have been grounded and they will not fly again until we understand what has happened and we have modified or acted accordingly,” he stated.

Chief of the Defence Force General Angus Campbell
Chief of the Defence Force General Angus Campbell stated the kind of plane will probably be a part of the investigation. (9News)

Chief of the Defence Force General Angus Campbell stated the return of the Taipans will type a part of the aviation investigation.

“There is going to be an investigation is there always would be, and it will be utterly thorough, and consider all factors, but we must not speculate and we must not in any way influence or distort the presumptions of that investigation,” he stated.

Tributes to recollect the 4 army personnel killed

Queensland MP Phillip Thompson, who served with Corporal Naggs within the First Battalion Royal Australian Regiment, stated his ideas, prayers and coronary heart exit to his household.

“He was a happy guy, a great person, he was someone who was never too hard for anything,” he stated.

“A life of service. He was someone if you asked a question you’d get an answer.

“He’s one of many nicest blokes I’ve ever met.”

In the flux of tributes by government and ADF officials, Governor-General David Hurley extended his sympathy to the loved ones and colleagues of the four men.

“As they stepped ahead to serve us, so should we to honour their reminiscence, bear in mind their sacrifice and assist their households,” he said.

“It is a tragedy, and Linda and my ideas are with the households, buddies and different defence power personnel at this troublesome time. I hope that the information of our nation’s gratitude is of some consolation on this second of intense grief.”

Former ADF-member-turned-politician Jacqui Lambie said her heart goes out to the families of the four men.

“To the defence neighborhood on the market, I simply need you to know that you’ve the nation behind you,” she said.

“We are pondering of you.”

The wreckage of what is believed to an MRH-90 Taipan in Whitsunday waters. Search and rescue crews have found debris in the search for four Australian defence helicopter crew who are feared dead after their aircraft went down off Hamilton Island in Queensland late last night.
The wreckage of what is believed to an MRH-90 Taipan in Whitsunday waters. (9News)

Search for bodies underway as MRH-90s reviewed

The search for the MRH-90 and the four aviators from the 6th aviation regiment based at the Holsworthy army barracks in Sydney is now a recovery effort.

An exclusion zone of more than 100 square kilometres is in place off the coast.

Campbell said authorities will do everything possible to bring the men’s bodies home to their families.

The crash marks one of Australia’s worst peacetime military disasters in almost 20 years, and came as the aircraft was being phased out of military use.

The decision to discontinue their use was made after one went down off the coast of New South Wales near Jervis Bay in March. Ten people were on-board, but all managed to make their way out.

The fleet was also grounded then but returned to the skies in April with “danger mitigations” in place, a Defence spokesperson said at the time.

Marles said the MRH-90s were due to come out of service at the end of next year in favour of Blackhawk aircraft.

”We will transfer via the method of placing the Blackhawks into service as rapidly as we will, however as totally as we have to, and we is not going to be discovering MRH-90s till we perceive what has occurred,” he stated.

Countries with the highest military expenditure in the world

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said earlier it was a reminder that there were no “protected and simple days” for people in the military.

Albanese offered his condolences to the families of the victims, who he said were trying to “construct a extra peaceable and protected world” during the failed operation.

“On behalf of our nation, our ideas and prayers are with the households, buddies and colleagues of those that are lacking,” he said.

“Our ideas are additionally with those who they serve alongside – buddies, brothers and sisters in uniform who even now are aiding within the search effort. I’d additionally wish to thank the assist from different nations throughout this search effort”.

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Source: www.9news.com.au