Robinson R44 crash near Nadi, Fiji

A Robinson R44 helicopter (DQ-VAT) operated by HeliTours (Joyce Aviation) ditched into the sea off Wailoaloa Beach near the Nadi Boat Club at approximately 5:23 p.m. while flying from Nadi to Denarau. The helicopter remained largely afloat and intact after entering the water. The pilot, the sole occupant, was rescued by an Air Terminal Services paddling crew who were training nearby and heard the impact approximately 50 metres behind them. The pilot received immediate medical attention from a doctor at the scene and was uninjured. The incident did not affect operations at Nadi International Airport. The Government appointed veteran aviation investigator Captain Norman Walding to lead the investigation.