An unusual detail on the two luxury helicopters involved in the crash at Sea World could have played a role in the tragedy.
The two Sea World Helicopters were conducting joy flights near the theme park on the Gold Coast of Australia when they collided mid-air.
Four people, including a couple and pilot from the UK, were killed in the tragic incident.
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The theme park had only acquired the two $2.5 million (£1.5m) Eurobus EC130 choppers in November.
According to The Daily Mail, the aircraft is configured so the pilot sits on the left hand side, and room for two passengers on the right – an unusual feature in helicopters.
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The publication added that investigators are looking into whether the unconventional set-up could have left the pilot's view blocked by their passengers, causing the crash.
Investigators will now be scrutinising eyewitness accounts and videos and CCTV footage of the crash.
It’s suspected that Birmingham-born pilot Ash Jenkinson, 40, would have had a restricted view on his far side.
The second aircraft, piloted by Michael James, was flying above on the right at a 90-degree angle, so potentially, it could have been in Jenkinson’s blind spot.
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An inquiry by the Air Transport Safety Bureau chief commissioner Angus Mitchell will be revealed on Tuesday (January 3).
Mitchell said: “We have a reasonable understanding of what the two helicopters were doing in those critical phases of flight,
“But exactly why this occurred, what was the range of visibility from both the pilots, what was happening in the cabins at the time – they're the things that will help us piece together potentially what may have been a contributing factor here.”
When Jenkinson’s helicopter collided, with the second aircraft, it sliced its rotor blades into the other aircraft's cabin and ripped its own rotor unit and gearbox off.
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The lower plane spun out of control, flipped on its back and plummeted to the ground at around 2pm on Monday (January 2).
Ash Jenkinson, 40, mother Vanessa Tadros, 36, Ron Hughes, 65, and his wife Diane, 57 from Wirral died in the crash.
Ms Tadros’ 10-year-old son Nicholas, Winnie de Silva, 33 and her nine-year-old son Leon are all being treated for their injuries in the hospital.
Queensland Police Commissioner Katarina Carroll said it was 'still early days' in the investigation when asked by reporters if charges were likely.
She said: “All of the evidence will form part of the investigation and at the end of the day, there will be conclusions…and that may be the case”.
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