Owner of Sea World helicopters breaks his silence
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The owner of the company involved in the mid-air collision that killed four people on the Gold Coast has broken his silence.
Sea World Helicopters chief pilot Ash Jenkinson, 40, was killed when his helicopter was struck by another helicopter descending to land on the water off Queensland’s Gold Coast at around 2pm Monday.
The father of one, as well as British newlyweds Ron, 65, and Diane Hughes, 57, and Sydney’s mother, Vanessa Tadros, 36, died in the horrific crash.
Vanessa’s son, Nicholas Tadros, 10, and Winnie and Leon de Silva, mother and son, 9, were also on board the helicopter and were seriously injured.
The other helicopter managed to land safely, but the windshield was damaged. Terrifying footage from inside the helicopter shows a passenger trying to warn the pilot of the approaching aircraft moments before the collision.
In an emotional statement on Thursday, Sea World Helicopters John Orr-Campbell described Mr Jenkinson as a “first class pilot and a first class man.”
Sea World Helicopters chief pilot Ash Jenkinson, 40, (pictured) was killed when his helicopter was struck by another helicopter descending to land on the water off Queensland’s Gold Coast around 2pm on Monday.
The helicopters collided in Southport Broadwater around 2 pm Monday.
‘I knew Ash personally for nine years. He was a good man and an outstanding pilot with 6,210 flight hours to his name,” Orr-Campbell wrote.
“Losing a man and pilot of Ash’s caliber is shocking in every sense of the word. I, along with the entire staff at Sea World Helicopters, are broken to the core. My heart aches when I think of Ash’s fiancée, Kosha, and her one-year-old son, Kayden.
“I would also like to congratulate the other pilot, Michael James, who heroically brought the second plane to the ground safely. We wish him the best in his recovery.
Mr Orr-Campbell revealed that the experienced pilot obtained his commercial pilot’s license in June 2008 and flew helicopters in Western Australia until 2011.
“During this time, Ash showed his love and commitment to the community, participating in multiple search and rescue flights in the area,” he said.
“This community mindset saw him put in over 700 hours and many days away from family and friends to assist with firefighting operations across Australia.”
Mr. Jenkinson is survived by his fiancee Kosha (pictured right) and their one-year-old son Kayden.
In 2019, Jenkinson became chief pilot for Sea World Helicopters, overseeing all aspects of safety and flight operations for the company.
“We have lost a first class pilot, a first class man and a wonderful father, partner and friend,” Mr. Orr-Campbell wrote.
“RIP Ash, you will always be in our hearts.”
Dozens of the pilot’s loved ones have flooded his personal Facebook page with messages of love and support in the days since his death.
“We used to talk a lot about his job, a job he loved that included not only travel for tourists, but also fighting intense forest fires a few years ago and helping flood victims,” one person said.
“I know the fun, positive and adventurous spirit of the legend that you are will live on in the lives of everyone who knew you,” wrote another.
‘Ash was the kindest, most selfless man to ever walk the earth. The love he had for his beautiful family and friends was without a doubt one of a kind and this extended to anyone who crossed his path,” wrote one woman.
A GoFundMe has raised more than $12,000 of their $15,000 goal to give $5,000 to each of the families affected by the accident.
Organizer Ritchie Gregg said Mr Jenkinson had come to the aid of the Gold Coast and Northern Rivers communities during the flood crisis.
“This year he set his heart on flood relief work in northern New South Wales, spending countless hours supplying and rescuing those in need who otherwise would never have received help,” he wrote.
“He also worked hard during the Australian bushfires and did numerous animal rescues. He is our hero and he has a big heart.’
These are terrifying images showing the moment a passenger tried to warn pilot Michael James that the other helicopter was on a collision course with the plane.
He can be seen aiming wildly out the window and urgently touching the pilot’s shoulder before forcefully gripping the seat in front of him as he braces himself for impact.
Moments later, the helicopter’s cabin explodes in a shower of shattered glass and metal as the other helicopter’s rotor blades slice through the cabin.
The pilot and passengers are destroyed by the deadly debris fragments, but surprisingly, Mr. James manages to maintain control of the badly damaged plane and lands nearby.