Sea World Helicopters chief executive Brett Newman and director John Orr-Campbell were due to give evidence on Monday about the crash that also killed pilot Ashley Jenkinson, 40, and British newlyweds Ronald and Diane Hughes – aged 65 and 67.
Instead the company’s barrister, Michael Trim, sought to have the two executives give evidence in February 2026 after receiving nearly 5000 pages of new material since the inquest began.
The application proposed several experts from the Australian Transport Safety Bureau and Civil Aviation Safety Authority would also not give evidence until next year.
“The issues being examined include the adequacy and appropriateness of my client’s operations … Those issues obviously have the potential to affect their interests,” Trim said.
“They should be entitled to a fair and proper opportunity to consider evidence.”
Counsel assisting Ian Harvey opposed the application as most of the key material had been available for months.
“There’s no submission at this stage of a potential adversarial finding in respect of any Sea World Helicopters witness,” he said.
Harvey said any parties facing a potential adverse finding would be able to respond at a later date.
The Tadros family’s barrister Gerard Mullins did not oppose the application.
Coroner Carol Lee rejected the application as “not necessary”, costly to the taxpayer, upsetting to victims of the crash and their families.
“Sea World Helicopters has had a six-month period to provide expert evidence, if it elected to do so, in response to criticisms contained in the Australian Transport Safety Bureau report,” Lee said.
Lee had heard at least one witness had flown in from the UK and would have to return home by Friday.
“The families of the four deceased persons have been waiting patiently for these proceedings … they have a legitimate expectation that these proceedings conclude as planned,” Lee said.
Sea World Helicopters executives will now give evidence next week during the final days of the inquest.
Sea World Helicopters had a 10-year agreement to run Sea World’s joy flights after taking over the Gold Coast attraction’s helipad from Village Roadshow Theme Parks in 2019.
