Jim Jefferies has opened up about his ongoing heartbreak after his 24-year-old nephew Max Nugent died in a tragic Queensland army helicopter crash in 2023.
The Australian comedian, 48, appeared on KIIS FM’s Kyle & Jackie O Show on Friday morning and shared his frustration at not getting any closure after more than two years.
On Thursday, the Commonwealth’s lawyers rejected Comcare’s recommendation to pursue the Australian Defence Force over alleged workplace safety breaches, which led to the Taipan helicopter crashing on July 28, 2023, and the deaths of four people.
‘When the families found out yesterday that at the hearing it was said, “no one is at fault”, that must have been hard to handle, right?’ co-host Kyle Sandilands asked Jefferies.
The comedian said the decision was a severe blow to his entire family: ‘We have been going to the hearings for over two years.’
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Jim Jefferies (left) has opened up about his ongoing heartbreak after his 24-year-old nephew Max Nugent (right) died in a tragic Queensland army helicopter crash in 2023
‘Now they have said there are no claims, the families are getting nothing, there is no fault,’ he added.
‘Major Ian Wilson said in the hearing that the helmets they were wearing were faulty under bad conditions and it was very rainy that night.’
Jefferies added he felt the Australian government was not doing enough to support the bereaved families who lost a loved one in this tragic accident.
‘The families deserve a day in court. We have been going to the hearings and just hearing drivel all the time. The government said our families would get justice.
‘Well, [Prime Minister] Albanese can go eff himself, this isn’t justice, this isn’t even an attempt of letting us see if we could get justice!
‘The Commonwealth DPP [Director of Public Prosecutions] have been disgusting, it was proven the pilots had fatigue and shouldn’t have been up there, under the guidelines of the military. What a nightmare!’
‘Even if it wasn’t technical, there were some managerial problems there or what have you.
‘You can have people laying wreaths on Anzac Day and saying they shall not be forgotten, and we support the troops.
The Australian comedian appeared on The Kyle and Jackie O Show on Friday morning and shared his frustration at not getting any closure after more than two years
On Thursday, the Commonwealth’s lawyers rejected Comcare’s recommendation to pursue the Australian Defence Force over alleged workplace safety breaches which led to the deaths of four people. The comedian said the decision was a blow to his entire family
‘But at the end of the day, you’re doing nothing. That’s all just lip service. They have left them with very little options.’
The accident occurred in July 2023, when an Australian Army chopper was conducting a joint military exercise as part of Operation Talisman Sabre and crashed in the waters off the Whitsunday Islands at about 10.30pm.
Captain Daniel Lyon, Lieutenant Maxwell Nugent, Warrant Officer Class Two Joseph Laycock, and Corporal Alexander Naggs were named by the Chief of Army, Lieutenant General Simon Stuart, as the four deceased.
They were all members of the army’s 6th Aviation Richmond Unit based at the Holsworthy Army Barracks in Sydney.
Lieutenant Nugent was the son of senior NSW Police Force officer Daniel Nugent, who is the brother of Aussie comedian Geoff Nugent – better known by his stage name Jim Jefferies.
Jefferies paid tribute to his beloved nephew on social media shortly after his passing.
‘My nephew Lieutenant Max Nugent died in a tragic helicopter accident that included three other soldiers: Captain Daniel Lyon, Warrant Officer Class Two Joseph Laycock, and Corporal Alexander Naggs,’ he wrote.
‘My heart goes out to these three families, knowing the pain they are feeling and that their lives will never be the same.
‘I remember the day Max was born. He was my brother and sister-in-law’s first child, and the first grandchild on both sides of his family.
‘He couldn’t have been more loved and welcomed into this world. We had high hopes for Max and he didn’t disappoint.’
The comedian said it was a ‘pleasure’ to watch him grow up to become someone he admired.
‘He’s someone I always admired, and I was so proud to call him my nephew. I still am,’ he wrote.
