Four people died in Australia after a deadly mid-air collision between two planes near the Sea World theme park, a tourist hotspot on Australia’s Gold Coast, on Monday afternoon, January 2, 2023.

In addition to killing four people, the collision critically injured three others.

Queensland State Police Acting Inspector Gary Worrell said during a news conference that one helicopter was taking off and the other was descending when they smashed into each other above the popular tourist attraction site.

Although one of the helicopters managed to land safely on a sandbank, debris from the second one flew across the beach and spread into areas that authorities said were trickier to access.

The four deceased people, plus three of the critically injured passengers, were aboard the helicopter that crashed. The collision took the lives of the pilot and three of its six passengers, all of whom were between the ages of 35 and 65.

At the news conference, Worrell said that people who had initially gone to the beach to enjoy themselves tried to help police rescue people from the helicopters by giving them first aid. He said they tried to get the injured people to safety and away from the wreckage.

Worrell said that the beachgoers, some in jet skis, others who were family boaters, and ordinary citizens rushed to help the people in the helicopters after the crash.

Among the dead were two British citizens, believed to be a couple, according to a foreign office spokesperson. Although their identities have not yet been made public, the spokesperson said that officials were communicating with their families.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said that the accident was terrible and tragic and that the country was shocked by it. He sympathized with the grieving families and said everyone affected by the tragedy was in his thoughts.

The seriously injured passengers included a 10-year-old boy, who is still in critical condition, a nine-year-old boy, who is said to be in stable condition, and a 33-year-old woman, who was reportedly in critical but stable condition.

Speaking about the accident on Tuesday, Angus Mitchell, the Chief Commissioner for the Australian Transport Safety Bureau, said that authorities were still investigating the accident’s details. He said that their preliminary findings indicated that the helicopter’s rotor blade that was on its way up hit the front cockpit of the other helicopter. 

According to Mitchell, the investigation will explore a wide range of factors, including the weather, how long the planes have been active, the pilots’ flying experience, and what went on in the cabins.

SeaWorld Helicopters, which operates both helicopters, released a statement saying that the company was devastated by the tragedy and offered condolences to the family and friends of the deceased. They announced that they would be closed until further notice and would refund all tickets bought.

The Australian Gold Coast’s tourist period is currently in its peak season, with many students on summer break.