November 29, 2006 09:53pm
Tragedy at sea … this file picture shows Army Black Hawks operating off the deck of the HMAS Kanimbla. The helicopter crashed while trying to land on the deck of the Kanimbla this afternoon.
ONE Australian soldier is dead and another is missing after a Black Hawk helicopter crashed into the sea while landing aboard HMAS Kanimbla off Fiji today.
The victim was pulled alive from the water after the helicopter went down but died as he was being treated for his injuries aboard the Kanimbla. He has not been named.
A search and rescue operation is underway for the missing soldier. Defence force chief Air Chief Marshal Angus Houston said HMAS Newcastle would assist in the search, which would not end “until all hope is lost”.
Seven other soldiers were injured but are not in a serious condition. A total of 10 personnel – including six SAS troops – were on board.
Air Chief Marshal Houston said the aircraft was lost after hitting the ship’s deck and falling into the sea. It is unlikely to be recovered.
“HMAS Newcastle (in conjunction with HMAS Kanimbla) is continuing to search the area for the missing person,” Air Chief Marshal Houston said.
“Details of personnel will not be released until other family members have been informed.”
The dead soldier’s body and the injured troops would be transferred to the Newcastle, Air Chief Marshal Houston said. The Newcastle would continue to search for the missing person until it left for Noumea tomorrow, he said.
“It will search right through the night and into the early morning,” Air Chief Marshal Houston said, adding the search would continue after Newcastle left.
“We will still have Kanimbla in the location and we won’t give up searching for the individual until all hope is lost.”
Air Chief Marshal Houston and Defence Minister Brendan Nelson refused to speculate on the cause of the fatal crash.
“We have a leading edge aircraft accident investigation capability,” Air Chief Marshal Houston said. “In recent memory they’ve always gotten to the bottom of what’s happened in a particular accident.”
Dr Nelson said the Black Hawk, despite its accident-littered history, was a good helicopter.
“The Black Hawk helicopter is a well tried, tested and true aircraft platform, it’s served not only our country but a number of countries extremely well.”
Dr Nelson paid tribute to the dead soldier, saying the thoughts of the nation were with the person’s family.
“We cannot express enough the pride we have in these men and women who wear our uniform, they do a very important job.”
Kanimbla and two other Australian warships were despatched earlier this month to stand by off Fiji to rescue Australian nationals in event of a coup by the Fijian military.
Over the last decade, Australia has lost many more service personnel in helicopter accidents than from any other cause.
In the tragedy on Nias Island, Indonesia, in April 2005, nine died when a navy Sea King helicopter crashed as it came in to land.
In June 1996, 18 servicemen, including 15 members of the crack Special Air Service regiment, died when two helicopters collided during a training exercise near Townsville in Queensland.
The Black Hawk, which carries a crew of four and up to 10 soldiers, is the principal transport helicopter of the Australian Army.
It entered service in 1988 with the army acquiring a total of 39.
The last aircraft was delivered in 1991.
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November 29, 2006 at 12:32 pm