Helicopter Crash at Knuckle Reef near Hayman Island in the Whitsundays

A helicopter carrying three passengers was forced to make a controlled landing at sea on Wednesday 26 January after it lost power mid-flight.

The Heli-Reef chopper - a Robinson R-44 - was on a scenic flight in the Whitsundays around 2pm when the pilot made a precautionary landing on the water about three nautical miles from Knuckle Reef. The pilot activated the emergency floats and landed the helicopter on the water, near Hayman Island.

There was no damage from the landing, and the passengers and pilot were not injured. A charter boat visiting at the pontoon, came to the aid of the passengers and pilot and they were later returned to Airlie Beach.

The helicopter involved is believed to be VH-HFG.