Exercise Talisman Sabre MRH-90 incident update

Defence continues the recovery operation of the MRH-90 Taipan helicopter which impacted waters near Lindeman Island on 28 July 2023. The priority remains to support the families of the fallen soldiers and to locate and recover as much of the wreckage as possible. Defence is supporting the families of the aircrew – Captain Danniel Lyon, Lieutenant Maxwell Nugent, Warrant Officer Class Two Joseph Laycock, and Corporal Alexander Naggs – and continues to keep them updated on the operation as new details become available. During the course of the recovery operation, HMAS Huon, Australian Defence Vessel Reliant and Royal Australian Navy Clearance Divers recovered items including personal effects and wreckage from the MRH-90 Taipan, in addition to the voice and flight data recorder. The recovery operation has been conducted in an exceptionally challenging environment and has reached the point of requiring specialist equipment not available within the Australian Defence Force. Defence will engage a commercial contractor to assist with the completion of the recovery operation, and expects the commercial operator will commence work at the site on or about 22August 2023. The commercial operator will work closely with the Australian Defence Force in support of the Queensland Police Service and Defence Flight Safety Bureau investigations. For Editorial Inquiries Contact: Editor Kym Bergmann at [email protected] For Advertising Inquiries Contact: Director of Sales Graham Joss at [email protected]