UPDATE 10PM:
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Police will work through the night after a horrific helicopter crash at Hobart International Airport left one man dead and a second man in a critical condition.
Police described the scene as “confronting on every single level”, with eyewitness accounts confirming a Rotorlift helicopter had nosedived from about 200 metres.
The single-engine Squirrel helicopter crashed about 5.20pm on Tuesday.
One man believed to be in his 40s was taken to Royal Hobart Hospital in a critical condition but a second man was pronounced dead at the scene.
Police were unable to confirm if the deceased was the pilot and said the cause of the crash was not yet known.
“The investigation is obviously in its infancy so at this stage we haven’t been able to determine who was in control of the aircraft,” Inspector John Ward said.
“I think we will be here until the early hours of the morning – we have a lot of work ahead of us.
“This is a tragic set of circumstances, especially for the family.”
Rotorlift has been based in Hobart for 15 years, offering scenic flights, transfers, charters and aerial work.
Police could not confirm if the men on board were Rotorlift employees and were still collecting statements from at least four eyewitnesses.
The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) has sent two investigators from Brisbane and Canberra to the site.
The airport was closed from about 7.30pm with all flights cancelled.
Hobart Airport chief executive Sarah Renner said the airport hoped to be open again by Wednesday morning, with respect to the police investigation.
“On behalf of Hobart Airport I would like to say that our thoughts are with everyone affected by this terrible tragedy,” she said.
“The airport remains closed until further notice.”
Ms Renner was unable to confirm the exact number of flights that had been affected by the closure.
The ATSB have asked any witnesses to call 1800 020 616.
UPDATE 8PM:
Hobart Airport has been closed following an earlier crash that has killed one person and left a second in critical condition.
The public are advised to check with their specific airline for more details of flight cancellations.
Launceston Airport manager Paul Hodgen has confirmed that one flight had already been diverted from Hobart to Launceston, with more expected.
Qantas and Virgin have both cancelled flights from Melbourne to Hobart, scheduled to arrive at 8.30pm and 8.55pm respectively.
The Australian Transport Safety Bureau have confirmed the accident involved a single-engine AS350BA Squirrel helicopter.
A team of two transport safety Investigators from Brisbane and Canberra will travel to the site shortly to begin their investigation.
No further information about the accident is available at this time.
The ATSB encourages anyone who witnessed the accident to call 1800 020 616.
UPDATE 7.30PM:
Police have confirmed that one person has died and one person is in a critical condition at the Royal Hobart Hospital following a helicopter crash at Hobart Airport earlier this evening.
Commercial flights are being affected.
More details to come.
EARLIER:
Police and emergency services are responding to a serious helicopter crash at Hobart Airport with two people involved.
There are reports the crash involved a Rotorlift helicopter.
It is understood this incident is impacting on airport operations, including commercial flights.
More details to come.
Rob Inglis
Jessica Willard
Being a health reporter to me is about more than just reporting the problems. It's about asking why they are happening in the first place and what needs to change to fix it.
Being a health reporter to me is about more than just reporting the problems. It's about asking why they are happening in the first place and what needs to change to fix it.
