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Drugs, Stress ‘Likely Impaired’ Sea World Tragedy Pilot
The coronial inquest reviews pilot Ashley Jenkinson's occasional cocaine use and the operator's safety management after a fatal mid-air helicopter collision, with regulators finding low drug impact.
- On January 2, 2023, a mid-air collision shortly after take-off killed Sea World helicopter pilot Ashley Jenkinson and three tourists, including Ronald and Diane Hughes and Vanessa Tadros, prompting a coronial inquiry in Brisbane.
- The ATSB found that Jenkinson had a very low cocaine level taken on New Year's Eve, 35 to 39 hours before the crash, and flew six passenger joy flights before his final take-off.
- Jeffrey Brock, Australian Army aviation medical officer, said `To me, the likelihood of impairment during flying on the day of the accident has gone from possibility to probability` after testimony on cocaine withdrawal, hangover and fatigue.
- Coroner Carol Lee has been asked to decide whether the operator's drug-and-alcohol plan met regulations, Sea World Helicopters executives will testify next week, and nine injured passengers were recorded.
- Experts offered differing assessments, with Judith Perl stating `It would lead me to suspect whatever cocaine he used was pretty poor quality` and Dr Brock saying impairment shifted from possibility to probability, leaving the role of drug use contested in the inquest in Brisbane.
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11 Articles
11 Articles
Almost three years after two Sea World helicopters collided over Australia's Gold Coast, new details about the tragedy have emerged.
Coverage Details
Total News Sources11
Leaning Left4Leaning Right1Center1Last UpdatedBias Distribution67% Left
Bias Distribution
- 67% of the sources lean Left
67% Left
L 67%
C 17%
R 16%
Factuality
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