The helicopter pilot who miraculously managed to land his aircraft safely following a shocking collision on the Gold Coast is being commended.
Pilot Michael James saved the lives of his five passengers when he steadied the aircraft before landing on a sandbank in the Broadwater.
The helicopter had a completely shattered front windscreen after the horrific mid-air crash with another helicopter on Monday.
The second helicopter tragically crash-landed on the same sandbank, killing its pilot and three passengers.
The Australian Transport Safety Bureau is continuing its investigation to determine exactly how and why this horror collision occurred.
Commissioner Angus Mitchell from ATSB says it’s a miracle more weren’t killed.
“The presence of mind to be able to land that helicopter, particularly considering the damage that we know has occurred on that front left-hand seat of the helicopter, does appear to be a remarkable job to have got it down,” Commissioner Mitchell says.
“We are very fortunate that we’re not standing here with far more deaths,
“Notwithstanding that there are four fatalities is a very tragic outcome.”
52-year-old Michael James has undergone surgery at the Gold Coast University Hospital to remove shrapnel suffered in the crash.
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