Australian Defence Force Chief of Joint Operations Lieutenant General Greg Bilton said the remains were found with the wreckage of the MRH-90 Taipan helicopter’s cockpit, on the seabed, 40m deep.
“Yesterday afternoon, Wednesday the 2 August, HMO AES remotely operated an underwater vehicle which located a further debris field including parts of the cockpit of the helicopter,” Bilton said.
“Sadly I can confirm unidentified human remains have also been observed in this location by the remotely-operated underwater vehicle.
“Due to the nature of the debris field positive identified location of the remains is unlikely to occur until we recover more of the wreckage.”
Australian Army Chief Lieutenant General Simon Stuart, Captain Danniel Lyon, Lieutenant Maxwell Nugent, Corporal Alexander Naggs, and Warrant Officer Joseph Laycock were on board.
All four aviators are from the 6th aviation regiment based at the Holsworthy army barracks in Sydney.
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Divers have not yet found the black box flight recorder however which could provide answers to what happened.
There were no signs of anything wrong in communications with the aircraft, which crashed almost a week ago during the Talisman Sabre military exercises with the USA near the Whitsundays.
”It’s a difficult task but we will do our absolute best to find it,” Bilton said.
The operation is being impacted by bad weather and strong currents.
Bilton said he was “devastated” and said the tragedy is having a “significant impact” on colleagues.
The fleet of 23 MRH-90 Taipans helicopters were grounded after the crash for the second time.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese described the crash off the coast as a “stark reminder” that there are “no safe or easy days” for those who “serve in the country’s name”.
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