SUNDAY
April 2 marks the first anniversary of one of the darkest days
in the ADF’s peacetime history.
On the early evening of April 2, 2005, Navy Sea King helicopter
Shark 02 crashed as it approached a remote Indonesian village
on Nias Island.
The aircraft was deployed aboard HMAS Kanimbla, which was providing
humanitarian aid to the earthquake-ravaged island.
SQNLDR Paul McCarthy, FLTLT Lynne Rowbottom, SGT Wendy Jones,
and Navy Lieutenants, Matthew Davey, Matthew Goodall, Paul Kimlin,
and Jonathon King, Petty Officer Stephen Slattery, and Leading
Seaman Scott Bennet, died.
Two other members, LAC Scott Nichols (now CPL) and Leading Seaman
Shane Warburton survived with injuries. They have since returned
to duty.
A Board of Inquiry was convened on September 6 and investigations
into the crash, one of the ADF’s worst peacetime disasters,
continue.
At the time of going to print, commemorative services were planned
at the Sea King memorial at the Defence complex at Russell and
at HMAS Albatross, the home of the lost Navy aircrew. Another
service to be held at the memorial on Nias Island was also being
planned.
AIR FORCE News acknowledges the courage and the sacrifice of those
who died and were injured doing what the ADF does best, helping
those in times of need.
The thoughts of its staff are with their families and loved ones.
