An Australian Army helicopter has been damaged during a multinational defence exercise in the Northern Territory, while all crew members on board avoided injury.<\/p>\n
A defence spokesperson said the Tiger helicopter experienced a “hard landing” on Wednesday evening while participating in Exercise Talisman Sabre near Timber Creek, about 300 kilometres south-west of Katherine.<\/p>\n
“The two aircrew aboard were unharmed and able to exit the helicopter safely,” they said.<\/p>\n
The spokesperson said the 1st Aviation Regiment had “implemented a pause on unit flying operations” after the incident but “other rotary wing support to the exercise will continue”.<\/p>\n
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The exercise involves drills at the Bradshaw Field Training Area near Timber Creek. (Department of Defence)<\/p>\n
They said the Defence Flight Safety Bureau had deployed a team to the Northern Territory to start an “independent aviation investigation of the incident”.<\/p>\n
“Defence thanks Northern Territory Emergency Services and the United States for their support during the response to the incident.”<\/p>\n
Exercise Talisman Sabre involves 30,000 military personnel from 19 nations and is the largest combined training activity between the Australian Defence Force (ADF) and United States military.<\/p>\n
The biennial war games involve live firing and combat simulations across land, sea and air.<\/p>\n
The ADF permanently grounded its fleet of Taipan helicopters after a fatal crash during the exercise two years ago<\/a> which killed Captain Danniel Lyon, Lieutenant Maxwell Nugent, Warrant Officer Class 2 Joseph “Phillip” Laycock and Corporal Alexander Naggs.<\/p>\n A defence investigation into the crash later found evasive action taken by the pilot avoided more lives being lost.<\/a><\/p>\n The ABC earlier confirmed Tiger helicopters from the ADF’s 1st Aviation Regiment would provide armed reconnaissance support during Talisman Sabre 2025. (Supplied: ADF)<\/p>\n An ADF spokesperson told the ABC earlier this month both Black Hawk and Chinook helicopters would be used by the army during this year’s exercise.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n