03-22-2018, 06:12 AM
Update: Dissension in the ranks... 
From HVH's social media minion last night:
...Media, please amend your stories immediately to reflect this.
The ATSB has only confirmed, via Facebook, that the Bureau will be investigating this accident.
Journalists are encouraged to contact the Queensland Police Service or the Queensland Ambulance Service for comment on the condition of those who were on board....
And from the ABC today (note part in bold):
Helicopter crash off Whitsundays leaves two dead, three injured
Updated about 7 hours agoWed 21 Mar 2018, 11:05pm
![[Image: 9573508-3x2-700x467.jpg]](http://www.abc.net.au/news/image/9573508-3x2-700x467.jpg)
Photo: The helicopter pontoon at Hardy Reef, where a chopper crashed on Wednesday afternoon. (cqplanespotting.blogspot.com.au - file image)
Two people were killed when a helicopter crashed on a remote Barrier Reef pontoon off the Whitsunday islands in North Queensland, police have confirmed.
Five people were aboard the helicopter when it crashed at the Hardy Reef pontoon.
"Three other people, including the male pilot and a male and female passenger, also believed to be from overseas, will be transported by sea for medical attention for non-life threating injuries," a police statement said.
"All passengers were recovered from the helicopter.
"Police will continue to assist the Australian Transport Safety Bureau with the investigation and recovery of the aircraft."
The crash site is about 65 kilometres north-east of the Whitsunday islands.
The police boat Damien Leeding and several other boats were dispatched to the site with police and other emergency services.
A Queensland Ambulance Service (QAS) spokesperson said they received a call about the accident around 4:15pm.
The spokesperson said paramedics had provided crash witnesses with instructions on how to perform CPR over the phone.
![[Image: 9573692-3x2-700x467.jpg]](http://www.abc.net.au/news/image/9573692-3x2-700x467.jpg)
Photo: The ATSB said a Eurocopter EC120B like this one crashed near Hardy Reef. (Supplied: cqplanespotting - file image)
Earlier on Wednesday, there were conflicting reports from Australian aviation authorities about the deaths.
A Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) media spokesman told the ABC the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) had confirmed that two people were killed.
The ATSB issued a statement to say it would be investigating the crash, but just before 8:00pm on Wednesday it issued another statement denying it had confirmed any fatalities.
The ATSB said the helicopter was a single-engine Eurocopter EC120B.
"A team of transport safety investigators will soon travel to the accident location to commence the evidence collection phase of the investigation," the ATSB said.
"There, investigators will interview witnesses, examine any available recorded data, review operational records and technical documentation amongst other activities."
MTF...P2
From HVH's social media minion last night:
Quote:The ATSB has NOT confirmed the condition of anyone involved in the helicopter accident in the vicinity of Hardy Reef, north-west of Hook Island, Whitsundays, Queensland this afternoon. Media please amend your stories immediately to reflect this. Read more: https://www.facebook.com/atsbgovau/photos/a.1655527014665323.1073741829.1638364093048282/2049598225258198/?type=3&theater …From Facebook link...
8:59 PM - 21 Mar 2018
![[Image: DYzcpz4UMAAaaS9.jpg]](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DYzcpz4UMAAaaS9.jpg)
...Media, please amend your stories immediately to reflect this.
The ATSB has only confirmed, via Facebook, that the Bureau will be investigating this accident.
Journalists are encouraged to contact the Queensland Police Service or the Queensland Ambulance Service for comment on the condition of those who were on board....
And from the ABC today (note part in bold):
Helicopter crash off Whitsundays leaves two dead, three injured
Updated about 7 hours agoWed 21 Mar 2018, 11:05pm
Photo: The helicopter pontoon at Hardy Reef, where a chopper crashed on Wednesday afternoon. (cqplanespotting.blogspot.com.au - file image)
Two people were killed when a helicopter crashed on a remote Barrier Reef pontoon off the Whitsunday islands in North Queensland, police have confirmed.
Five people were aboard the helicopter when it crashed at the Hardy Reef pontoon.
"Three other people, including the male pilot and a male and female passenger, also believed to be from overseas, will be transported by sea for medical attention for non-life threating injuries," a police statement said.
"All passengers were recovered from the helicopter.
"Police will continue to assist the Australian Transport Safety Bureau with the investigation and recovery of the aircraft."
The crash site is about 65 kilometres north-east of the Whitsunday islands.
The police boat Damien Leeding and several other boats were dispatched to the site with police and other emergency services.
A Queensland Ambulance Service (QAS) spokesperson said they received a call about the accident around 4:15pm.
The spokesperson said paramedics had provided crash witnesses with instructions on how to perform CPR over the phone.
Photo: The ATSB said a Eurocopter EC120B like this one crashed near Hardy Reef. (Supplied: cqplanespotting - file image)Earlier on Wednesday, there were conflicting reports from Australian aviation authorities about the deaths.
A Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) media spokesman told the ABC the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) had confirmed that two people were killed.
The ATSB issued a statement to say it would be investigating the crash, but just before 8:00pm on Wednesday it issued another statement denying it had confirmed any fatalities.
The ATSB said the helicopter was a single-engine Eurocopter EC120B.
"A team of transport safety investigators will soon travel to the accident location to commence the evidence collection phase of the investigation," the ATSB said.
"There, investigators will interview witnesses, examine any available recorded data, review operational records and technical documentation amongst other activities."
MTF...P2