Name: Teen ground worker testifies in SeaWorld helicopter crash inquest
Uploaded: 2025-11-25T06:25:14.770Z
Duration: 1 min 39 s
Description: A 19-year-old ground worker gave evidence at the Gold Coast inquest into the 2023 SeaWorld helicopter collision, outlining her duties and what she witnessed on the day of the fatal crash. Her testimony forms part of a broader examination into safety practices and operational decisions leading up to the tragedy.

A 19-year-old ground worker gave evidence at the Gold Coast inquest into the 2023 SeaWorld helicopter collision, outlining her duties and what she witnessed on the day of the fatal crash. Her testimony forms part of a broader examination into safety practices and operational decisions leading up to the tragedy.

Brisbane

A coronial inquest in Brisbane has heard testimony from Grace Hickey, a 19-year-old ground worker, regarding her involvement in the events leading up to the fatal helicopter collision on the Gold Coast Broadwater in January 2023. Hickey, who had recently finished high school, described giving the all-clear to chief pilot Ash Jenkinson moments before the crash that claimed four lives.

The inquest revealed that Hickey had not received formal training on how to scan the busy area for hazards and that seatbelts on board were found to be incorrectly fitted according to an ATSB report. Hickey gave an emotional account of the responsibility she felt and the guilt she has carried since the incident. The inquest is ongoing.

Teen ground worker testifies in SeaWorld helicopter crash inquest

A teenage girl who was one of the last people to give the all-clear to a pilot moments before a disaster. Grace Hickey had just finished high school and was juggling multiple roles as a ground worker at SeaWorld Helicopters. On the day, two aircrafts collided. In January 2023, four lives were lost on the Gold Coast Broadwater. Chief pilot Ash Jenkinson, British newlyweds Ron and Diane Hughes, and Sydney mother Vanessa Tadros. Day two of the coronial inquest heard from the 19-year-old who gave Ash Jenkinson a simple thumbs up before takeoff. She described stepping back after passengers were boarded, doors closed, and life jackets and seatbelts secured, a task she said she always took seriously. Personally, I made them really tight. But an ATSB report into the deadly crash found they were fitted incorrectly, some twisted and buckled over life jackets. The coroner heard she scanned for birds, boats, and incoming choppers, but admitted she received no formal training on how to properly scan the busy broadwater. Her all-clear came just before the chopper lifted off into the path of colleague Michael James. Today's evidence revealed just how much responsibility sat on the shoulders of a 19-year-old ground worker. Grace Hickey's emotional account left the courtroom silent as she described the guilt she's carried since the crash. I did a lot of blaming myself for it, but nothing I could have done could have helped it. The inquest continues. Hannah Watt, 10 News.

The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, the U.S.- and Israeli-backed organization to distribute aid in Gaza, said on Monday (November 24) it was ending its operations after months of criticism over the deaths of hundreds of Palestinians trying to reach GHF hubs.

Tel Aviv-Yafo

Divisive U.S.- and Israeli-backed Gaza aid group ends operations

The head of Sudan's Rapid Support Forces (RSF), General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, said late on Monday (November 24) that his paramilitaries would immediately enter into a three-month humanitarian truce in its conflict with the country's armed forces.

Darfur

Sudan's RSF paramilitary says it will enter into a ceasefire

Chauncey Billups, who was serving as head coach of the Portland Trail Blazers until his suspension, pleaded not guilty on Monday to charges related to alleged rigged high-stakes poker games.

Chauncey Billups pleads not guilty to charges

The Kremlin on Monday (November 24) said that a European counter-proposal to a U.S. 28-point peace plan for Ukraine was not constructive and that it simply did not work for Moscow.

Moscow

Kremlin rejects revised European peace plan to end war in Ukraine

A federal judge has dismissed the criminal cases against former FBI Director James Comey and New York Attorney General Letitia James on the grounds that Lindsey Halligan, the interim U.S. attorney who secured their indictments, was unlawfully appointed to the role.

Washington

Cases against James Comey, Letitia James dismissed

At least 90 people have died in a week of torrential rain, flooding and landslides in south-central Vietnam, authorities said. Popular tourist areas have been heavily hit, with parts of Nha Trang submerged and deadly landslides cutting off roads near Da Lat.

Nha Trang

Vietnam flooding kills at least 90

The Trump Administration is ramping up pressure on Venezuela as the Air Force conducted a simulated nighttime attack along the country's coast. Charlie D'Agata has the latest.

Caracas

Trump ramps up pressure on Venezuela with nighttime Air Force attack

Israel killed Ali Tabtabai, the acting chief of staff of militant group Hezbollah, in an airstrike on a southern suburb of Beirut on Sunday, the Israeli military said.

Beirut

Middle East Conflict

Israel kills Hezbollah military leader in Beirut strike

While Russia and Ukraine continue to exchange daily drone fire, an updated peace framework is being worked out in Geneva between Ukraine, the US and European partners.

Kyiv

Ukraine Invasion

Ukraine upholds red lines as Geneva peace talks continue

Álvaro García Ortiz's decision came less than a week after he received a two-year suspension and a fine for disclosing private information about the partner of an opposition politician.

Madrid

Spain's attorney general resigns after conviction over data leak

U.S. President Donald Trump's Department of Government Efficiency has been disbanded with eight months remaining in its mandate, and Office of Personnel Management Director Scott Kupor has told Reuters that the cost-cutting body now "doesn't exist".

DOGE 'doesn't exist' with eight months left on its charter

Al-Burhan rejected a new truce proposal from US envoy as the “worst yet”, accusing the Quad mediators of bias due to the UAE’s involvement.

Al Fashir

Sudan’s army chief rejects quad truce proposal as ‘worst yet’

Three suicide bombers and three security personnel killed in attack on the Federal Constabulary headquarters in Peshawar, media reports say.

Peshawar

Six killed in suicide attack on security complex in Pakistan

The attack which Israel says to have killed chief of staff Haytham Tabtabai in the southern suburbs of Beirut also killed four other people and injured 25.

Israel says to have killed top Hezbollah official in strike on Beirut

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer suggested that former Prince Andrew should testify before the U.S. Congress as part of its ongoing investigation into Jeffrey Epstein. Starmer did not discuss Andrew’s case directly but said, as a matter of principle, everyone involved should cooperate with the inquiry.

London

Starmer says former Prince Andrew should testify in Epstein probe

About 50 schoolchildren aged 10–18 who were abducted in Niger state, Nigeria, have escaped, authorities confirmed. They fled individually between Friday and Saturday, according to the Christian Association of Nigeria, which runs the school. Officials continue to track those still missing.

Niger

50 abducted Nigerian schoolchildren escape, authorities say

The first G20 summit to be held in Africa has been labelled a "triumph of multilateralism," as leaders from the world's more powerful economies came together in Johannesburg. South African leader Cyril Ramaphosa used his presidency to highlight the priorities of Africa and the global south.

Johannesburg

G20 shared goals 'outweigh differences' as summit ends

After running a day overtime, delegates at COP30, the United Nations climate summit in Belém, Brazil, finally reached a deal on a final agreement, but one that falls well short of the high expectations held by many delegates, environmental groups and NGOs.

Belém

COP30 climate deal falls short of expectations

Washington signaled room for negotiation on a 28-point plan to end the Ukraine war, denying claims by some U.S. senators that it is a Russian "wish list," as Kyiv and European allies criticized the proposal ahead of Sunday talks in Geneva.

Geneva

Europeans push for stronger deal for Ukraine as Geneva talks continue

The United States is set to launch a new phase of Venezuela-related operations in the coming days, four U.S. officials told Reuters, as the Trump administration steps up pressure on President Nicolas Maduro's government.

U.S. to launch new phase of Venezuela operations, sources say

Premier Li Qiang said Beijing wants to work with Pretoria to safeguard the multilateral trading system.

China pledges to work more closely with South Africa

Brazil's COP30 presidency pushed through a compromise climate deal that would boost finance for poor nations coping with global warming but that omitted any mention of the fossil fuels driving it.

UN climate talks end with no binding deal on fossil fuels

U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia, a once-loyal supporter of Donald Trump who has since become a critic of the president, said she is resigning from Congress in January. Greene's resignation followed a public fallout with Trump over the Epstein files.

Trump loyalist-turned-critic Marjorie Taylor Greene resigns

The Coast Guard said it conducted its largest cocaine seizure in history worth an estimated $362 million. Take an inside look as officials offload the nearly 50,000 pounds of drugs.

Coast Guard announces largest cocaine seizure in agency history

U.S Secretary of State Marco Rubio and special envoy Steve Witkoff are due to arrive in Geneva on Sunday to push for President Donald Trump's plan to end the war in Ukraine. European and Ukrainian officials will take part in the talks.

U.S delegation to meet with Ukraine to sell Trump's peace plan

The G20 summit opened on Saturday (November 22) with EU leaders and their counterparts from leading and emerging economies coming together as Washington's proposed peace plan for Ukraine loomed large on the sidelines.

Soweto

Leaders adopt declaration at Africa's first G20 summit

Federal police have detained Brazil’s ex-president Jair Bolsonaro after a Supreme Court judge deemed the far-right firebrand a "high flight risk." The arrest comes just days before Bolsonaro is due to begin a 27-year prison term for leading a botched coup attempt.

Rio de Janeiro

Brazil ex-president Bolsonaro arrested due to "flight risk"

Pope Leo XIV met with some of the rescued Ukrainian children who were kidnapped by Russian forces throughout the war as the Vatican ramps up its efforts to get all of the nearly 20,000 abducted kids home to Ukraine.

Rome

Pope Leo XIV meets with rescued Ukrainian children

U.S. President Donald Trump and New York City's incoming progressive mayor Zohran Mamdani were all smiles at a White House meeting, promising to set aside months of bitter feuding and cooperate on the city's future.

Trump hosts warm White House meeting with N.Y. mayor-elect Mamdani

Hopes for a strong G20 declaration on climate and debt relief are slim as South Africa hosts the summit from Saturday (November 22). Global tensions and a boycott by the U.S. threaten to overshadow the gathering.

Breakdown