Thread: Black Hawk down

Ouch. Some late night for quite a few people. Hope it is just a coms type issue but doubt it.

Another article I read mentioned that some members had been rescued but others still missing.
So probably not a comms issue unfortunately.

I have a friend on one of the ships out there. However I doubt he would have been on a chopper.

Hope they are all alright.

Fingers crossed everyone is ok. Matt

not nice

BLACKHAWK HELICOPTER ACCIDENT NEAR FIJI

Chief of the Defence Force Air Chief Marshal Angus Houston

Wednesday 29 November 2006

Ladies and Gentlemen.

It is my sad duty to inform you of an accident involving a helicopter on HMAS Kanimbla.

An Australia Army Blackhawk helicopter was attempting to land on the deck of HMAS Kanimbla when the accident occurred and was lost into the sea late this afternoon.

The helicopter was conducting a training flight.

There were ten Army personnel on board the aircraft. No Air Force or Navy personnel were involved in this accident.

Nine personnel were recovered. One person remains missing.

One of the persons recovered, sadly later died as a result of injuries while being treated by specialist medical staff on board HMAS Kanimbla.

Of the other eight personnel recovered, seven were injured. Their injuries were not of a serious nature.

Recovery operations are continuing. HMAS Newcastle, operating with HMAS Kanimbla, is continuing to search the area for the missing person.

We are currently in the process of notifying the next of kin of the deceased and missing people.

The immediate Next of Kin have been informed. However, details of personnel will not be released until other family members have been informed.

HMAS Kanimbla is currently deployed in the waters off the South-West Pacific near Fiji to be ready to take appropriate measures to ensure the safety of Australians in Fiji.

HMAS Kanimbla is equipped with a medical facility.

The ADF requests that the media respect the families’ need for privacy during these difficult times.

The cause of this accident is unknown. We have commenced a full investigation into this accident.

Further details of the accident will be released as soon as they are available.

The men and women on board HMAS Kanimbla were preparing and training so they could provide support to Australian citizens.

Their efforts are indicative of the way we do business in the ADF and of course they where there ready to provide caring and necessary support in challenging circumstances.

We are deeply saddened by this accident and the grief it has caused some of our families and all of those affected by the accident

Very sad when this sort of thing happens