Much-loved pilot the first Sea World chopper crash victim laid to rest
Mourners will unite in grief at the first funeral for a victim of the Sea World Helicopter crash that claimed four lives on the Gold Coast.
Hundreds are expected to pay tribute to experienced pilot Ash Jenkinson at the Southport Church of Christ on Friday afternoon.
Jenkinson, 40, died alongside British couple Ron and Diane Hughes and Sydney woman Vanessa Tadros when two helicopters crashed mid-air on January 2.
Tadrosās 10-year-old son Nicholas was seriously injured in the accident and is in a critical but stable condition at Queensland Childrenās Hospital. Two other passengers were left with major injuries after the crash.
In the days following the tragedy, Sea World Helicopters hailed Jenkinson as a fine man and a stand-out pilot with thousands of hours of flying to his name.
āTo lose a man and a pilot of Ashās calibre is shocking in every sense of the word,āĀ John Orr-Campbell, director and owner of Sea World Helicopters, said in a statement after the tragedy.
āMy heart aches as I think of Ashās fiancĆ©e Kosha and his one-year-old son Kayden.ā
Ash performed his first flight in May 2007 and obtained his commercial pilot licence in June 2008. His love for flying took him to the Northern Territory, where he ran scenic flights until the end of September 2011.
āHis professional, bright, warm and welcoming personality saw him rise through the ranks, and he became the Northern Territory base manager,ā Orr said.
āHe mentored several upcoming pilots, and he also spent many hours flying traditional owners to survey the land.ā
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Jenkinson was known for his love and commitment to the community.
āThis community-mindedness saw him dedicate over 700 hours and many days away from family and friends assisting in firefighting operations across Australia,ā Mr Orr said.
Jenkinson in 2019 became chief pilot at Sea World Helicopters overseeing all aspects of safety and flight operations.
While friends and family prepare to farewell the victims of the tragedy, investigators continue to probe the cause of the crash.
The Air Transport Safety Bureau does not expect to complete its investigation until September 2024.
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