The search for four Australian defence personnel in a helicopter crash off Queensland has uncovered “signifcant wreckage”, dashing hopes the men on board the chopper will be found alive.
Captain Daniel Lyon, Lieutenant Maxwell Nugent, Warrant Officer Class Two Joseph Laycock and Corporal Alexander Naggs were on board the Taipan helicopter when it crashed during a military exercise near Hamilton Island on Friday night.
Federal Defence Minister Richard Marles said the discovery of the “significant wreckage” reveals the men were killed in a “catastrophic incident”.
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“It is now clear that any hope of finding Captain Lyon, Lieutenant Nugent, Warrant Officer Laycock Corporal and Naggs alive has been lost,” he said on Monday.
Authorities will continue to try to recover their bodies, Marles said.
“The families of the four aircrew were notified this morning. I’ve spoken with each of them in the last hour,” he said.
“But I do want to assure them and assure the nation that the determined recovery effort involving hundreds of Defence Force personnel will continue.”
More to come …
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