Senate calls for review of helicopter crash inquiry after corruption claims
A senate committee says an inquiry into a 2023 helicopter crash that killed four soldiers should be reviewed over corruption claims.
Former test pilots Major Ian Wilson and Major David Lamb spoke to the senate inquiry on Friday. The former test pilots accused the Defence Flight Safety Bureau of obvious conflict of interest.
The former test pilots also said it made up evidence in its report. The helicopter crashed off Queensland's Whitsunday Islands on July 28, 2023.
It killed Captain Danniel Lyon, Lieutenant Maxwell Nugent, Warrant Officer Joseph Laycock and Corporal Alexander Naggs. The committee found poor handling of the conflict of interest.
This has cast doubt on the bureau's independence and accuracy. Senior Defence officials denied any cover-up during August hearings.
The inquiry also recommended checking how well army aviation follows workplace health and safety rules. This includes fatigue management.
- July 28, 2023
- Crash date
- Off Queensland's Whitsunday Islands
- Location
Why it mattersIf the review confirms corruption claims, it could reopen questions about how the soldiers died. It could also show whether Defence misled the grieving families about the causes.
AustraliaAustralian Defence personnel and their families need confidence that military investigations are honest and independent; this recommendation suggests that trust may have been broken.
✓ Claims checked against the source. checked 6 d ago
