What: Australian Broadcasting Corporation chopper
Where: Lake Eyre, Australia
When: August 17, 2011
Who: 3 staff
Why: The Australian Broadcasting crew was en route in bad weather and lost contract with flight control around 7:30 pm on August 17 at 142km northeast of William Creek and 146km north-northeast of Marree. Lake Eyre was said to be clear at the time of the crash, with a few local showers. The crew had been on site for aerial photography and video work around Lake Eyre and Cooper Creek.
They were supposed to be meeting people for dinner, and when they didn’t show up, according to The Telegraph, “the guys walked a few kilometres to the edge of Lake Eyre and found the wreckage.” Eyewitnesses saw the chopper go down in flames.
The cause is unclear.
The passengers included journalist Paul Lockyer and cameraman John Bean, who were confirmed missing last night and confirmed dead this morning at 5:30 am.
Chopper pilot Gary Ticehurst, (Film Helicopters Australia) had over 14,000 chopper hours. Lockyer was a 39 year journalist and Bean had been with ABC over 22 years.
Emergency services arrived at the crash site early today, August 18.
