2005 Nias Island Sea King crash The 2005 Nias Island WS - 61 Sea King crash , was the crash of a Royal Australian Navy ( RAN ) Westland WS - 61 Sea King helicopter ( registration N16 - 100 , call sign Shark 02 ) of 817 Squadron RAN at approximately 4 pm ( local time ) on 2 April 2005 with 11 personnel on board . The accident occurred while Shark 02 was making its approach to land on a soccer field located near the village of Tuindrao in the region of Amandraya on the Indonesia n island of Nias . Shark 02 had been providing humanitarian support to the people of the earthquake - devastated region . Casualties . Nine personnel died in the accident , including six members of the RAN and three members of the Royal Australian Air Force . They were : Two personnel survived the crash : Leading Seaman Shane Warburton ( a communication information specialist ) and Leading Aircraftman Scott Nichols ( later promoted to Corporal , a medic ) . Ceremonies and National Service of Thanksgiving . The arrival of the bodies in Australia on 5 April 2005 was marked by a ceremony at Sydney Airport . Families of the deceased were joined by the Governor - General of Australia , Major General Michael Jeffery , the President of Indonesia , Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono , Australian Prime Minister , John Howard , Chief of Defence Force , General Peter Cosgrove and the Chiefs of the Army , Navy and the Air Force . Each of the deceased were honoured with Service funerals . A National Service of Thanksgiving for those killed in the crash of Shark 02 was held on Friday , 15 April 2005 in the Great Hall of Australian Parliament House in Canberra . The service was attended by family members , friends and colleagues of all nine members killed , and by both survivors . The service was led by the Anglican Bishop to the Australian Defence Force , Tom Frame . Others who spoke at the service included : John Howard , Australian Prime Minister ; Kim Beazley , Leader of the Opposition ; and , Imron Cotan , Indonesian Ambassador to Australia . Services were also held at the Australian Defence Force ' s headquarters in Canberra , and at other Service establishments across the country . Awards . The state visit of President of Indonesia , Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono , meant that he could honour the deceased by presenting and placing on the casket of each his country ' s highest honour , the Medal of Valour . The two survivors were awarded with the honour at a later time . The Indonesian award highlighted a problem of similar honours by the Australian Government , as the servicemen and women had been part of a humanitarian operation at the time of the incident , not a military one . This was overcome by changing the circumstances for the award of the Humanitarian Overseas Service Medal , so that all who served in the Indonesian humanitarian mission would be eligible , including the nine deceased and two survivors . On 17 March 2008 , the actions of former Leading Seaman Warburton were recognised with Australia ' s second highest bravery award , the Star of Courage . The Minister for Defence , the Hon . Joel Fitzgibbon MP , said that Shane Warburton ’ s actions in saving a colleague while facing immense personal danger was a significant act of heroism worthy of such recognition . The Minister said his selfless act was particularly noteworthy given he himself was seriously injured in the accident . On 26 May 2009 , four Indonesian men – Benar Giawa , Adiziduhu Harefa , Motani Harefa and Seti Eli Ndruru – were awarded the Bravery Medal at the Australian Embassy in Jakarta , for their role in rescuing the survivors of Shark 02 . Together , they carried the men to safety away from the crash site , made the Australians comfortable and provided first aid . Board of Inquiry . A Board of Inquiry was appointed by the Maritime Commander Australia on 28 April 2005 to fully investigate the circumstances surrounding the incident . An initial analysis of the accident was conducted by an Aircraft Accident Investigation Team . The Board delivered their report with findings and recommendations to the appointing authority on 18 December 2006 ; this report was made public in June 2007 . An article in " The Bulletin " in April , 2007 revealed allegations of substandard maintenance on Sea Kings before and after the accident . In an interview with Ray Martin , the Maritime Commander Australia , Rear Admiral Davyd Thomas , said he understood the anger of grieving families . Memorial . In December 2009 , the City of Perth Surf Life Saving Club named a surf boat in memory of Stephen Slattery .