The pilot who was killed in the two-helicopter collision on the Gold Coast has been remembered as a "first-class pilot, a first-class man and a wonderful father and partner" by the head of Sea World Helicopters.
Director and owner John Orr-Campbell released a statement on Thursday, paying tribute to 40-year-old chief pilot Ash Jenkinson.
Passengers in the helicopter he was flying, British couple Diane, 57 and Ronald Hughes, 65, and Vanessa Tadros, 36, were also killed in the crash. Ms Tadros's 10-year-old son remains in a critical condition.
Mr Orr-Campbell said he had known Mr Jenkinson for nine years, describing him as a "fine man and a stand-out pilot with 6,210 hours of flying to his name".
"To lose a man and a pilot of Ash's calibre is shocking in every sense of the word," he said.
"I, along with all the staff at Sea World Helicopters are gutted to the core.
"My heart aches as I think of Ash's fiancé Kosha and his one-year-old son Kayden."
Mr Jenkinson became the chief pilot at Sea World Helicopters in 2019, and supervised safety and flight operations, the statement said.
Mr Orr-Campbell said they were also mourning the loss of Mr Jenkinson's passengers and "cannot imagine the terrible sadness their families and loved ones must be feeling".
"We have and continue to reach out directly to offer our deepest condolences, support and counselling to the families and passengers of both aircraft," he said in the statement.
"I would also like to commend the other pilot, Michael James, who heroically got the second aircraft to the ground safely. We wish him well in his recovery."
Mr James was discharged from a Gold Coast hospital today.
The Australian Safety Transport Bureau (ATSB) is investigating the crash.
In the statement Mr Orr-Campbell recounted Mr Jenkinson's almost 16 years of flying experience including, running scenic flights in the Northern Territory, rising through the ranks to become the Northern Territory Base Manager, and conducting search and rescue flights.
"Here he mentored several upcoming pilots, and he also spent many hours flying traditional owners to survey the land," he said.
Surviving passengers are assisting with the investigation.
'Loyal, fun-loving couple' remembered
In a statement the family of Ron and Diane Hughes said it was "still in a state of shock".
The British couple arrived on the Gold Coast last week "after being separated by COVID for the last few years".
"They were the most generous, loyal, fun-loving couple who had a zest for life and were loved and adored by everyone they met," the statement said.
"Tragedies like this happen to 'other people' and we are all struggling to come to terms with our loss.
"They leave a huge hole in our family and will be survived by parents, brothers, sons, daughters, and their cheeky grandkids."
The statement thanked first responders, emergency services and Sea World staff for their "heroics in trying to save our loved ones" and wished those affected by the collision the best in the recovery.
Geelong woman Winnie de Silva, 33, is in a stable condition in a Gold Coast hospital.
Her nine-year-old son Leon is now in a stable condition at Queensland's Children's Hospital in Brisbane, where he spent the days since the crash in a critical condition.
Passengers in the second helicopter, Edward and Marle Swart and Riaan and Elmarie Steenberg — all tourists from New Zealand — were taken to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries and all four have now left hospital.
