THE Department of Defence today confirmed the pilot killed in yesterday’s Black Hawk crash off Fiji was 35-year-old Captain Mark Bingley.
Captain Bingley, 35, a member of the 171st Squadron based in Townsville, died in the accident yesterday afternoon as the helicopter was trying to land on HMAS Kanimbla. He is survived by his wife and a son.
Captain Bingley had served on deployments to Timor, Cambodia and the Solomon Islands. His body will be returned to Australia tomorrow night, along with seven survivors.
The search is continuing for an SAS officer still missing in the waters off Fiji after yesterday’s crash.
The Chief of the Defence Force, Air Chief Marshal Angus Houston, says Captain Bingley was experienced and highly competent.
Air Chief Marshal Houston says there is no reason to believe mechanical failure caused the accident but he is not sure if the helicopter can be recovered.
“We are assessing the feasibility of recovering the wreckage, I mean it’s very deep water and obviously that sort of recovery would be challenging so we’re working through that and we’re getting expertise from around Australia to determine whether we can do it or not,” he said.
Originally from Launceston in Tasmania, Captain Bingley joined the army in 1990.
The search is continuing for an SAS officer still missing in the waters off Fiji after yesterday’s crash.
The Chief of the Defence Force, Air Chief Marshal Angus Houston, says Captain Bingley was experienced and highly competent.
Air Chief Marshal Houston says there is no reason to believe mechanical failure caused the accident but he is not sure if the helicopter can be recovered.
“We are assessing the feasibility of recovering the wreckage, I mean it’s very deep water and obviously that sort of recovery would be challenging so we’re working through that and we’re getting expertise from around Australia to determine whether we can do it or not,” he said.
Originally from Launceston in Tasmania, Captain Bingley joined the army in 1990.
Defence Minister Brendan Nelson said Captain Bingley had served with distinction. “All Australians should feel very proud of his courage and commitment,” he said.
“Our sympathies go to all of Captain Bingley’s family, in particular his wife and son.”
Australian Defence Force chief Angus Houston also offered his condolences to Captain Bingley’s family and friends.
“He was an extremely competent and highly regarded member of Army’s aviation community,” he said.
“Captain Bingley will be remembered as a dedicated pilot who had an infectious energy and a great sense of humour.
“He was a valued team member who will be sorely missed by his comrades, the Army and the Australian Defence Force.”
Meanwhile, seven of the injured Australian soldiers are on their way home today following the incident.
Of the nine personnel rescued from the water, eight were injured, including the pilot who later died. The other injuries were described as not too serious.
Of the nine personnel rescued from the water, eight were injured, including the pilot who later died. The other injuries were described as not too serious.
The air chief marshal said last night the dead soldier could not be revived aboard the Kanimbla because “he was in the water too long”.
“I can confirm that all members on board the aircraft at the time of the accident had all completed helicopter underwater escape training and were wearing flotation devices,” he said today.
The cause of the accident was not yet known but was being investigated, he said.
“All I know is the accident happened as the aircraft was coming to land on the deck. Something happened, it landed hard on the deck and … went over the side,” he said.
The helicopter sank rapidly in waters believed to be up to three kilometres deep and is unlikely to ever be recovered.
The Kanimbla and Newcastle, along with HMAS Success, have been in the waters off Fiji in recent weeks on standby to evacuate Australians in the event of political turmoil on the island erupting into a military coup.
Defence Minister Brendan Nelson praised the job being done by the men and women of the ADF.
“It is certainly worth remembering why they were there in the south-west Pacific. They are there to help and support Australians … should there be turmoil in Fiji,” Dr Nelson said.
The accident happened as the Fijian military were preparing for a show of force last night, with troops in full battle gear locking down parts of the city for three hours.
The exercise, which involved securing certain parts of the city and firing illumination rounds into the sea, was meant to act as preparation for the possible intervention of foreign forces.
The 10 soldiers on the aircraft – four air crew from Fifth Aviation regiment near Townsville and six SAS troopers – were on a training exercise as part of an ADF contingent on standby close to Fiji amid fears of an imminent coup in the Pacific nation.
Australia last night began a voluntary evacuation of high commission staff and their families from Suva as renegade military leader Commodore Frank Bainimarama returned to Fiji after peace talks with Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase in New Zealand. The Fijian military, led by Commodore Bainimarama, who has threatened to “clean up” the Government, last night launched a barrage of artillery illumination flares into the sea near the entrance to Suva harbour.
Mr Qarase, who was awaiting a briefing on the Black Hawk incident, said it had come at “absolutely” the wrong time, given the crisis in Fiji.
The accident happened south of the Fijian Island of Kadavu. The Kanimbla and two other Royal Australian Navy vessels are on standby in international waters to rescue Australian nationals during the threat of a coup.
The HMAS Newcastle last night joined the search for the missing SAS trooper.
More Australian service personnel have lost their lives in helicopter crashes over the past decade than from any other cause. In April last year, nine died when a Sea King helicopter, also operating from the Kanimbla, crashed on the Indonesian Island of Nias while assisting in the aftermath of an earthquake.
In June 1996, 18 servicemen lost their lives when two Black Hawks collided during a training exercise at night near Townsville in Queensland. The dead included 15 members of the elite Special Air Service regiment.
Black Hawks operate with a crew of four and can carry up to 10 soldiers. The helicopter began Australian military service in 1988 and has a solid reputation as the workhorse transport helicopter of the army.
Defence Minister Nelson said the Black Hawk was a good helicopter despite its history. “The Black Hawk helicopter is a well tried, tested and true aircraft platform. It’s served not only our country but a number of countries extremely well,” he said.
Dr Nelson paid tribute to the dead soldier, saying the thoughts of the nation were with the bereaved family.
“We cannot express enough the pride we have in these men and women who wear our uniform. They do a very important job.”
HMAS Kanimbla was launched in 1970 by the US navy and was purchased by Australia with its sister ship HMAS Manoora in 1994. It carries a crew of 180 sailors and can transport 400 troops plus vehicles, landing craft and up to four Black Hawk or three Sea King helicopters.
The 1996 Black Hawk disaster was was one of the Australian military’s darkest days. A subsequent investigation into the collision found a “litany of mistakes”, including poor maintenance. The two crashed helicopters were among six flying in formation at the time.
An interim inquiry held in the days following the crash could not determine the cause.
Later investigations suggested the special goggles used by the pilots were inadequate and left the wearers effectively blind. Communication between the helicopters flying in formation was also criticised.
Additional reporting: AAP, John Stapleton