Exercise Talisman Sabre helicopter crash: Four feared dead off Hamilton Island in the Whitsundays

Four people are feared dead after a military helicopter crashed off the coast of north Queensland during joint training operations between the US and Australia.

The MRH-90 Taipan ditched in the ocean off Hamilton Island during a two-helicopter operation at about 10.30pm on Friday.

It was part of Exercise Talisman Sabre, a large-scale training operation involving several allies, and it’s understood the helicopter is an Australian Defence Force (ADF) craft. 

The wreckage was recovered south of Hamilton Island, near Dent Island, but no survivors have been found.

The search for them resumed Saturday morning.

Four Australian Defence Force members are feared dead after their helicopter crashed (pictured, an MRH-90 Taipan – the type of helicopter that went missing)

The missing crew ditched their helicopter into the ocean off Hamilton Island (marked on the map above)

Military aircraft from both the US and Australia are involved in the search and rescue operation near Airlie Beach, south of Townsville in far north Queensland. 

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese released a statement shortly before 11am, which read: ‘Our first thoughts are with the loved ones of the missing.

‘All Australians hold them in our hearts and we hold onto hope as the search and rescue teams go about their work right now.

‘We have utmost confidence in their professionalism and skill.’

Defence Minister Richard Marles addressed reporters on Saturday morning and confirmed families had been notified of the incident.

‘We meet with a heavy heart,’ Mr Marles said.

‘Our hopes and our thoughts are with air crew and their families, with thoughts of the search and rescue crews as they go about their work right now.

‘These are early days and much more information is to be provided about this incident.

‘Defence exercises, which are so necessary for the readiness of our defence force, they carry risk.

‘As we hope for better news during the course of this day, we are aware of the gravity of the act that comes with wearing the uniform.’

Military aircraft from both the US and Australia are conducting a search and rescue operation in the Airlie Beach region of the Whitsundays (pictured)

The MRH-90 Taipan (above) had already been involved in an emergency this year, after one ditched into waters off the NSW south coast in March

Chief of the Defence Force General Angus Campbell thanked those helping in the search operation.

‘Our focus at the moment is finding our people and supporting their families and the rest of our team, this is indeed a terrible moment,’ he said.

‘I deeply appreciate the assistance provided by a variety of civil agencies and the public, as well as US allies, all of whom have come together to assist and continue the search to find our people.

‘I’ll be available in the coming days to provide updates as they become known to ensure that everybody is aware of what we’re doing to better look after our people.’

It is the second time an Australian MRH-90 has been involved in an emergency this year, after a Taipan ditched into waters off the NSW south coast in March.

The chopper was taking part in a night-time counter-terrorism training exercise when it ran into trouble – 10 people had to be rescued.

The Taipan helicopter has earned a reputation as unreliable in recent years, with malfunctions and technical issues forcing several groundings of Australia’s fleet.

Four people are feared dead after a military helicopter crashed off north Queensland during training operations (pictured, Blackhawk helicopters seen at Townsville airport as part of Exercise Talisman Sabre on Thursday)

This year’s Exercise Talisman Sabre is the 10th in the bilateral training activity between Australia and the US.

It was the largest ever, with more than 30,000 military personnel participating from 13 nations including Fiji, Indonesia, Japan, Republic of Korea, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Tonga, France, United Kingdom, Canada and Germany.

The 14-day exercise, running until August 4, tests large scale logistics, multi-domain firepower demonstrations, land combat, amphibious landings and air operations. 

Exercise Talisman Sabre has been paused in light of the accident.