KEY POINTS:
- Defence Minister Richard Marles says the hope of finding four missing officers after helicopter crash is lost.
- He described the crash as "catastrophic".
- The four had been missing since the crash on Friday evening.
Defence Minister Richard Marles says there is no hope that four army airmen involved in a "catastrophic" helicopter crash have survived.
Marles revealed "significant wreckage" had been discovered by rescuers since the , and said the four men are believed to have died "making a difference".
"What this evidence [shows] is that there was a catastrophic incident. With every passing hour, it is now clear that any hope of finding [them] ... is lost," Marles told reporters on Monday.
"The tragedies that have taken place in the Whitsundays have transferred from those being of search and rescue to an activity of recovery. The families of the four aircrew were notified this morning.
"I've spoken with each of them in the last hour. But I do want to assure them and assure the nation that the determined recovery effort involving hundreds of Defence Force personnel will continue."
The four men were identified this weekend as Captain Danniel Lyon, Corporal Alexander Naggs, Lieutenant Maxwell Nugent and Warrant Officer Class Two Joseph Laycock.
The MRH-90 Taipan helicopter crashed near Hamilton Island as it took part in the Talisman Sabre military exercises, the largest war games ever hosted in Australia.
From left to right: Australian Army soldier Corporal Alex Naggs, Australian Army officer Lieutenant Maxwell Nugent and Australian Army soldier Warrant Officer Class 2 Joseph Laycock. Source: AAP, Supplied / Department of Defence
Deep waters and strong currents are hampering efforts in the area of the crash, near Hamilton Island in Queensland.
Despite the tough conditions, chief of the Australian Defence Force (ADF) Angus Campbell insisted efforts to locate their bodies will continue until they succeed.
"It's got the full backing of the entire multinational effort ... We will be bringing our mates home to their families, and to their regiments," he said.
Investigation to be 'utterly thorough'
Australia's fleet of Taipan helicopters has been grounded, and will not fly until an investigation into the incident is complete.
Campbell pledged the probe will be "utterly thorough and consider all factors", but did not give a timeframe.
"It will be done as quickly as possible, but thoroughly as it needs to be," he said.
Marles did not commit to revealing the results of the investigation fully, insisting it was too early to speculate on what had occurred.
"We will come to understand exactly what has happened here and what lessons we need to learn from this," Marles said.
Campbell confirmed Talisman Sabre would not be abandoned.
"The exercise is continuing, albeit in some parts ... in a way that enables the recovery effort to continue at scale, and then appropriately redirects exercise activity and planning into the next stages of that activity," he said.
A supplied screen-grab from a Nine News video obtained Sunday, July 30, 2023 of what is believed to be debris from the MRH90 Taipan being hauled from the water off Lindeman Island. Source: AAP / Supplied by Nine News
“Our worst fears have been confirmed. I know that every member of this house, along with every Australian, is thinking of the families,” he said.
“Four men who made the brave and selfless choice to serve our country, to dedicate their lives to keeping us safe.
“They were soldiers and they were sons, husbands, brothers, fathers and friends. And today our deepest sympathies [are] with the people who loved them and the people that they loved ... We mourn them. We will remember them. Lest we forget."
Opposition leader Peter Dutton described Monday as a "dark day" for Australia, and joined Albanese in thanking those assisting the search effort.
"It is a tragic day for our nation," he said.
"We will continue to provide the recovery effort, so that the answers can be provided to their loved ones, to their colleagues, that we come together on a sad occasion, a tragic occasion for our nation.
"We stand at one for support of those men and women who bravely wear the uniform of the Australian Defence Force."
