Sea World chopper pilot Ashley Jenkinson had ‘cocaine in his system’ during crash that left 4 dead including Brit couple

THE Sea World helicopter pilot who died in a horror mid-air crash that left four dead had cocaine in his system, an investigation has found.

The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) has released its interim report on the one year anniversary of the fatal incident between two helicopters on the Gold Coast on January 2, 2023.

The devastating tragedy took the lives of four people and injured another nine.

Amongst those killed was Sydney mum Vanessa Tadros and British newlyweds Ron and Diane Hughes.

Chief pilot Ashley Jenkinson was the fourth victim of the aircraft collision.

On Tuesday, ATSB chief commissioner Angus Mitchell said a toxicology report revealed Mr Jenkinson had "a positive result for low levels of cocaine metabolites" in his system.

However, the examining forensic pathologist reported no signs of chronic stimulant use and the cocaine was unlikely to have been consumed within 24 hours of the crash, the report stated.

“It is unlikely there would have been impairment of the pilot’s psychomotor skills,” Chief Commissioner Mitchell said.

The report added that the drug could have been taken up to four days prior.

In a statement, Mr Jenkinson's family welcomed the interim report but asked those who knew him to not let it "tarnish the memory" of the popular pilot.

"On the anniversary of the accident, we acknowledge the ongoing pain and grief of all the other families involved. They remain in our thoughts daily," the statement read.

"It is important for the people deeply affected, as we have been, to have a greater understanding of the multiple contributing factors to this terrible accident."

Mr Jenkinson's family then urged people to read the full report that found there were "multiple contributing factors to this terrible accident".

"As a family, we know there will be significant attention to this finding. We request people not be distracted by this one element of the interim report or this be the sole focus of the report.