A GBR Helicopters Bell 206 Jetranger crashed in Cooktown on Tuesday, with all four occupants - including Cook Shire Council mayor Peter Scott - surviving but two suffering serious injuries. 

A powerful gust of wind caught the helicopter as it was preparing for takeoff near Cooktown, flipping the aircraft over and tossing it into nearby rough terrain. The helicopter was part of GBR’s commercial flight operations and was not a tourist flight. GBR Helicopters, which has operations in Port Douglas and Cairns, is the area’s premier helicopter tour company. Company director Chris Cooper told media that the pilot of the helicopter had ‘thousands of hours of experience’ and was ‘one of the most experienced pilots in the company’GBR will conduct a full investigation into the incident and Mr Cooper said the company will be fully cooperating with the Civil Aviation Safety Authority and the Australian Transport Safety Bureau.