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Inquiry Into Fatal Australian Army Helicopter Crash Concludes Public Hearings

Families of the four aircrew killed in the 2023 MRH-90 Taipan crash call for systemic reforms as inquiry findings await release.

Two small boats with people in uniform in the foreground and a large ship with a crane on it in the background.

Overview

  • The 15-month inquiry into the July 2023 crash that killed four Australian Defence Force aircrew has completed its public hearings.
  • Families of the victims described the crash as preventable, citing long-standing safety issues and urging full implementation of future recommendations.
  • Evidence presented revealed the Taipan fleet's decade-long elevated risk designation and unsafe night-vision equipment, which had been flagged as problematic by personnel.
  • A sleep expert testified that the crew's extreme fatigue before the crash impaired their performance to levels comparable to legal intoxication.
  • Inquiry lead Margaret McMurdo will deliver a final report at an undetermined date, while Defence has already implemented some fatigue-management reforms.