Families of four aviators killed in horror 2023 Taipan helicopter crash launch class action against Commonwealth, Airbus
Families of four aviators killed in the 2023 Taipan helicopter crash have filed a class action against the Commonwealth and Airbus.Summary
On July 28, 2023, during Exercise Talisman Sabre, an MRH90 Taipan helicopter piloted by Captain Danniel Lyon crashed into waters off Hamilton Island, killing Lyon, Lieutenant Maxwell Nugent, Warrant Officer Class 2 Phillip Laycock and Corporal Alexander Naggs. The Defence Flight Safety Bureau found spatial disorientation to be the primary cause. Family members of the four aviators have initiated a class action in the NSW registry of the Federal Court, naming the Commonwealth and helicopter manufacturer Airbus as defendants, with Caitland Lyon, the widow of Captain Lyon, as lead applicant. The claim alleges failures in reasonable care regarding the aircraft’s systems and configuration, mission planning and authorisation, and aviator fatigue and workload. Airbus has expressed sympathy but declined to comment on the litigation, while Defence said it is considering the claim. The crash prompted the early retirement of the entire Taipan fleet and triggered both an independent investigation by the Inspector General of the Australian Defence Force and a Senate probe into airworthiness assessments and regulatory compliance.
(Source：PerthNow)