Australian army to stop flying European-designed Taipan helicopters

Australia’s Taipan helicopter fleet has been permanently grounded (LCPL Riley Blennerhassett/Australian Defence Force via AP)

The Australian army will never again fly its fleet of MRH-90 Taipan helicopters following a crash in July that killed four soldiers, the country’s defence minister said.

Australia’s fleet of more than 40 European-designed Taipans has been grounded since July 28 when one crashed into the Pacific Ocean during a night-time training operation in the Whitsunday Islands off the northeast Australian coast.