‘Hear it when I close my eyes’: Heartbroken families of Taipan crash unite as questions remain
Families of four soldiers who died when their Taipan helicopter crashed during training exercises on Queensland’s Whitsunday coast have met for the first time as questions remain about the fatal crash.
Captain Danniel Lyon, Lieutenant Maxwell Nugent, Warrant Officer Second Class Joseph Laycock, and Corporal Alexander Naggs were killed when their MRH-90 crashed during a night exercise in July 2023.
A report by the Aviation Safety Investigation concluded that the primary cause of the crash was “undetected loss of spatial orientation” in which the pilot was unaware of his actual orientation relative to the earth.
An investigation by the Inspector General of the Australian Defense Force will release its findings next year.
One family member said the crash, the worst peacetime military accident in decades, should never have happened.
“This was an accident that was expected to happen,” Dan Nugent, Lt. Maxwell Nugemt’s father, told 60 Minutes.
His wife, Marianna Nugent, continued: “I think the truth is not being told.”
The Taipan’s unreliability was a sticking point for many families.
The squadron was stranded in March 2023 after the MRH-90 Taipan was forced to dive into the water following a malfunction during training exercises.
Following the accident in July 2023, the fleet was permanently grounded.
“His words to me were that they gave us a Ferrari when, in fact, a Commodore could have done the job,” Mr. Nugent said of his son’s thoughts on the Taipan.
“MRH 90 was incredibly cranky. It had a lot of problems with availability, malfunction and maintenance.”
Capt. Lyon’s wife, Caitland Lyon, said the couple made a joke referencing the Taipan: “Oh, were you able to fly today?”
“Oh, it’s surprising it got off the ground.”
Ms. Lyon described her husband as someone who “drove his Sandman, chasing the zinc-covered surf.”
“He was the best combination of people coming together and I was the lucky one. He chose me out of everyone.”
“You know, being his wife was the greatest privilege of my life.”
Another problem was the pilot and co-pilot’s TopOwl helmets.
Retired test pilot Maj. Ian Wilson was assigned to test the helmets, but told 60 Minutes that the night vision component was defective, with a 50 percent loss of efficiency.
Major Wilson said he and his Defense colleagues gave Defense a report in 2020 warning of the risks associated with helmets.
Although he was retired at the time of the accident, he said the incident “kept me up at night.”
“I knew the equipment I was testing was responsible,” he said.
The Aviation Safety Investigation report found that “known hazards” associated with the helmet were unlikely to contribute to pilots’ loss of spatial orientation.
Fatigue was a key focus of the Australian Defense Force Inspector General’s report as well as public hearings at which Major Wilson gave evidence.
‘I hear it when I close my eyes’
Mrs. Lyon recalled speaking to her husband the day of the accident.
“I could hear all the knives and everything running, and I knew he couldn’t hear me, but I was saying, ‘I love you. I love you. I love you so much. I love you,'” she said.
“And his face got stuck in his helmet, and that was the last time I saw him.”
He also remembers telling his son Noah that he had to tell him that his father wasn’t coming home.
“I hear the scream from him when I close my eyes,” he said.
Speaking to 60 Minutes, the families came together for the first time in the two and a half years since the accident.
As there is no official memorial service, families head to North Bondi RSL instead.
Warrant Officer Phillip Laycock’s mother, Dianne Laycock, is still mourning the loss of her son.
“He was our son,” he said.
“Every celebration is sad now.
“And I think we’re missing out on opportunities that he missed, that he wasn’t there to see his kids grow up.”
Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Simon Stuart told 60 Minutes that Defense “remains unreservedly committed to supporting thorough and independent investigations to establish what happened and determine actions that will prevent all aviation accidents and incidents.”
“We continue to provide support to our community and the airmen’s families in the wake of this accident through Defense Officer and Family Support.
“The Defense Flight Safety Bureau completed its Aviation Safety Investigation Report on March 28, 2025.
“The investigation concluded that the primary cause of the accident was unrecognized loss of spatial orientation, commonly referred to as spatial disorientation.
“All 46 recommendations made by the Defense Flight Safety Bureau’s Aviation Security Investigation Report have been accepted and are being implemented by Defense.
“As the MRH-90 Taipan crash is the subject of ongoing investigations, I am unable to comment further.”
A spokesman for Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles said: “It is fundamentally important that the families of Captain Lyon, Lieutenant Nugent, Warrant Officer 2nd Class Laycock and Corporal Naggs are able to understand what caused this accident.”
“The government awaits the findings of all investigations into this accident.”
