‘Bright flash’: moments before MRH-90 crash

The begetter of an airman killed successful the MRH-90 Taipan chopper clang disconnected the seashore of Queensland has told an enquiry into the incidental he’s yet to person an authoritative decease certificate arsenic the archetypal day of his son’s decease approaches.

Captain Danniel Lyon, Lieutenant Maxwell Nugent, Warrant Officer Class Two Joseph Laycock, and Corporal Alexander Naggs were killed erstwhile their MRH-90 Taipan chopper ditched into the water southbound of Hamilton Island connected July 28.

The nocturnal grooming mission, which was portion of Exercise Talisman Sabre, had planned for the aircraft, with the telephone motion Bushman 83, to beryllium flying successful enactment with 3 different helicopters astir 10pm to Lindeman Island successful Queensland.

During the grooming mission, the craft was seen climbing abruptly earlier pitching nose-down towards the h2o wherever it crashed and splintered connected impact.

The full Taipan fleet has since been retired early.

An autarkic enquiry into the fatal incident, headed up by erstwhile justice Margaret McMurdo, continued connected Tuesday successful Brisbane.

Lieutenant Nugent’s father, Daniel Nugent, told the enquiry astir the infinitesimal helium learnt of his son’s decease and the his ongoing qualms with parts of the probe into the crash.

Mr Nugent said 2 service unit arrived astatine their household location connected the greeting of July 29.

The household were past informed a rescue ngo was nether mode and Lieutenant Nugent was missing.

Mr Nugent said immoderate of his son’s colleagues who had been flying with him that nighttime told the household astir what they’d seen.

One of the colleagues, known arsenic D-4, had been flying connected Bushman 82 during the ngo and had told the Nugent household astir the upwind conditions they’d experienced that night.

“During the formation helium saw a agleam flash and that helium believed was perchance a flare going off, past helium realised it was Max’s craft hitting the water,” Mr Nugent told the inquiry.

“He conscionable said helium saw a flash, helium thought it was perchance a flare from 1 of the aircraft.

“Then vigor (communication) was that an craft had gone in.”

Mr Nugent said different 1 of his son’s colleagues, known arsenic D-10, was flying Bushman 84 erstwhile the clang occurred.

“He benignant of talked america done what happened to Max’s aircraft,” Mr Nugent said.

“He said they were flying along, gone astir the larboard alternatively than the saddle of Proserpine … they were entering their holding pattern, did 1 crook normally, during 2nd crook Max’s craft abruptly gained altitude and turns implicit and goes successful the h2o suddenly.

“He’s ne'er seen an craft bash that.”

The enquiry heard that D-10 told Mr Nugent he’d lone had capable clip to accidental implicit the vigor “pull up, propulsion up, propulsion up”, but nary effect was ever received.

Mr Nugent said contempt having 2 authoritative briefings since his son’s decease with the ADF, helium was yet to person an authoritative decease certificate from the Queensland coroner’s office.

“None of Max’s remains were recovered from the clang site,” helium said.

“There are immoderate remains from the clang tract pending DNA analysis.”

Mr Nugent said he’d been precise disappointed successful the process with the coroner’s office.

“They’ve been precise mediocre successful their connection unless I’ve prompted that communication,” helium said.

“We’re present contiguous due to the fact that my lad is dead, that is not a question and for them to what appears to beryllium bureaucracy dragging retired to not supply a decease certificate is cruel.”

Mr Nugent said portion he’d received an army-approved decease certificate, the NSW Supreme Court won’t judge it for probate proceedings.

“It’s been highly frustrating,” helium said.

The enquiry was told that bony fragments had been recovered successful the betterment ngo and had been sent to a Victorian DNA lab, but those findings were yet to beryllium finalised.

Mr Nugent said he’d received 1 of his son’s canine tags retrieved from the clang site, his wallet, which had washed ashore, and his mobile phone, which was sent backmost to him by the army.

However, the phone’s information was corrupted and the instrumentality was permanently locked.

Mr Nugent said the lone clip he’d received interaction from the Queensland Police Service was erstwhile they asked him for his son’s imaginable password to unlock his telephone arsenic portion of their investigation.

He said QPS had failed to inquire “basic techniques” of questioning arsenic portion of their probe astir his son.

“They volition rubber stamp the findings of this enquiry and they’ll taxable that to the coroner,” Mr Nugent said.

More to come