Paul McCarthy



Nine die in quake relief crash
Sunday, April 3, 2005
SYDNEY, Australia (CNN) -- Nine Australian defence personnel have died in a helicopter crash during relief operations on Indonesia's earthquake-devastated island of Nias, the Australian Defence Department said. Two other people on board the Australian navy Sea King helicopter survived the crash. They were rescued by a second Sea King helicopter and taken back to the transport supply ship HMAS Kanimbla. The crash occurred on Saturday at about 4.30 p.m. local time (0930 GMT) near the town of Gunung Sitoli, off the west coast of Sumatra, the defence statement said. Reports from the scene said the helicopter was approaching the village of Amadraya and flying at a low altitude when it nose-dived into the ground and exploded in flames. The seven men and two women who died were members of the crew and the medical and supply teams on board. The Chief of the Australian Defence Force, Lt.-Gen. Peter Cosgrove, told a press conference in Canberra on Sunday morning that despite the tragedy, Australia's relief effort in Sumatra would continue. He said the Kanimbla, which only arrived on Saturday from Singapore after three months providing tsunami relief in the Indonesian province of Aceh, would stay on. Gen. Cosgrove said there would be a full investigation into the causes of the crash. The Australian navy's Sea King helicopter fleet is about 30 years old. Australian Prime Minister John Howard said Sunday the loss of nine young Australians in the Nias tragedy was "heart-breaking". "These young Australians were on a mission of mercy and compassion, they were helping the poor people of the island of Nias in the wake of the latest earthquake there," Howard told Australian Broadcasting Corp. radio.
		Helping out: Australian Defence Force doctors and nurses brought aboard HMAS Kanimbla by Sea King helicopter last week




Nine Diggers die in chopper crash
*03 Apr 05*	*By CLARE MASTERS*

SHATTERED staff on HMAS Kanimbla cried and bowed their heads in shock when told nine of their colleagues had been killed in a helicopter crash.

Two other crew members were being treated after being evacuated from the stricken chopper to the ship. One was reported in a critical condition.
The dead were two women and seven male Australian Defence personnel.

Both pilots were killed and the two survivors were both male.

The 300-strong crew was told of the tragedy by their skipper, Cdr George McGure

The voice of the ship's captain wavered as he delivered the news the crew of HMAS Kanimbla had dreaded for almost an hour.

"It's been confirmed that members of our family have died," Cdr McGuire told the dinner mess over loudspeaker shortly after 8pm yesterday.

Quake relief disaster

TOUGH JOB ... a Sea King crew set for take-off from HMAS Kanimbla for operations around Nias

Two hundred brave men and women bent their heads in pain, and reached out to each other. Tears that had half dried on faces turned to anguised streams as their leader offered the heartbreaking news that the ship was now under steam towards the scene of the crash.

"We will go and collect our friends," he said.

Yesterday had dawned as one of hope for both the devastated people of Nias and the Australian defence personnel who were dispatched to help them.

HMAS Kanimbla, which had been turned around at Singapore just days before its crew were to meet up with family at home, was the first ship to arrive in the shattered area.

They were exhausted and disappointed to not see their families, but the satisfaction of doing a hard job well meant many were smiling despite a hard day treating dozens of serious injuries and unloading supplies.

The Navy confirmed that those killed included five naval personnel, three from the Air Force and one Army member.

The chopper crashed about 7.30pm Melbourne time on approach to Amandraya village on the remote west coast of the island of Nias off Sumatra.

The rescue mission was the second of the day and both helicopters earlier had returned from Peruk Dalam, on the south of the island, where they had airlifted four Indonesians to the ship for emergency care.

The Sea King aircraft had been ferrying an emergency medical team from the to the village as part of relief efforts to outlying areas of Nias following a devastating earthquake on Monday.

The Australians had been diverted to the island only days from returning home after three months in Sumatra helping victims of the Boxing Day tsunami.

The accident was witnessed by the crew of a second Sea King helicopter that was also taking part in the relief operation.

Experts said mechanical failure was the most likely cause of the crash.

The accident threatens to be the worst loss of life in a peace time military helicopter crash since 1996, when 18 soldiers were killed after two Army Black Hawks collided on a training exercise in Queensland.

The ship's helicopters were to be used to distribute food, water and medical supplies.

The Kanimbla had only just reached the area yesterday morning after steaming from Singapore, where crew had been enjoying shore leave after a three-month posting to tsunami-devastated Aceh.

The Sea King, called Shark Zero Two, crashed as it landed in a remote and previously unseen area of Nias.

In such a tight unit it didn't take long before the entire ship knew there was a problem.

Shortly afterwards a second aircraft saw smoke and visited the crash site.

In the end the only good news was that two men are alive and have been brought back to the ship to be operated on. But it was little solace.

The reality of a mission gone so wrong was barely comprehensible.