A preliminary report in relation to a helicopter crash on the Gold Coast of Australia which resulted in the death of a couple from Cheshire has been released.
Diane and Ron Hughes, from Neston, died in the mid-air crash between two sightseeing helicopters at around 2pm local time – 4am GMT – on Monday, January 2 in Main Beach, not far from Sea World in the state of Queensland.
Ron, 65, and Diane, 57, had been visiting family after not seeing them since before the start of the coronavirus lockdown. Queensland Police said the pilot and three passengers had died at the scene, including a pair travelling from the UK – a 57-year-old woman and a 65-year-old man – and a woman, 36, from Glenmore Park, New South Wales.
The Australian Transport Safety Bureau's (ATSB) report details factual information and the accident’s sequence of events but contains no findings. READ MORE: Matt Hancock 'discussed withholding learning disability hub if Bury MP opposed lockdown', leaked messages suggest The ATSB said the investigation will look closely at the issues both pilots faced in seeing the other helicopter, the nature of radio calls made, operator procedures and regulatory approvals.
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