Two helicopters collide - Gold Coast, Queensland - Sea World 2/1/2023
Joined: Oct 1999
Aviation Qualifications: ATPL
Posts: 7,371
Likes: 926
From: Den Haag
Without a doubt, and the video was shown (without the actual collision) soon after the event. I think at the moment of being tapped on the shoulder the pilot is looking straight ahead, but I don't believe the distraction made any difference given the time to impact at that point. The obvious other clue is the pilot is identifiable as Michael James!
Joined: Sep 2015
Posts: 588
Likes: 99
From: Australia
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-12-...ence/106092416
I just can’t fathom how a chief pilot, apparently an exemplary pilot was a cocaine user and this was known by another employee (also a pilot) and this was okay. He only did this “irregularly” and only 3 or 4 lines at a time. The ATSB has said the cocaine is unlikely to have played a part in this incident but I always wonder if someone breaks one rule, what other rules are optional.
“On Tuesday, Ross Meadows — who was also a helicopter pilot, but worked full-time as a marketing consultant for Sea World Helicopters — was called to give evidence about Mr Jenkinson.
Mr Meadows described Mr Jenkinson as his "best mate" and told the court over their nine years of friendship, he only knew him to be a social user of cocaine.
"[It was] very irregular," he said.
A former Sea World Helicopters worker has appeared before a coronial inquest.
The court heard Mr Meadows attended Mr Jenkinson's home for a gathering on New Year's Eve and witnessed him using a white substance, which he assumed was cocaine.
He accepted he remarked to Mr Jenkinson, "nothing good comes from that s**t".
But when asked whether he should have reported his friend, Mr Meadows said, "that's not my place".
"He's his own person, I'm not responsible for him," Mr Meadows said.
He said it was only in hindsight he recognised the potential safety concerns.
I just can’t fathom how a chief pilot, apparently an exemplary pilot was a cocaine user and this was known by another employee (also a pilot) and this was okay. He only did this “irregularly” and only 3 or 4 lines at a time. The ATSB has said the cocaine is unlikely to have played a part in this incident but I always wonder if someone breaks one rule, what other rules are optional.
“On Tuesday, Ross Meadows — who was also a helicopter pilot, but worked full-time as a marketing consultant for Sea World Helicopters — was called to give evidence about Mr Jenkinson.
Mr Meadows described Mr Jenkinson as his "best mate" and told the court over their nine years of friendship, he only knew him to be a social user of cocaine.
"[It was] very irregular," he said.
Former worker recalls moments leading up to deadly Sea World helicopter crash
The court heard Mr Meadows attended Mr Jenkinson's home for a gathering on New Year's Eve and witnessed him using a white substance, which he assumed was cocaine.
He accepted he remarked to Mr Jenkinson, "nothing good comes from that s**t".
But when asked whether he should have reported his friend, Mr Meadows said, "that's not my place".
"He's his own person, I'm not responsible for him," Mr Meadows said.
He said it was only in hindsight he recognised the potential safety concerns.
