Ashley Jenkinson, 40, a helicopter pilot in one of Australia’s deadliest air disasters, was seen taking cocaine at a party a day before his fatal crash. On 2 January 2023, Jenkinson’s Sea World helicopter collided midair near the Gold Coast theme park, killing him and three others. Two witnesses told a coronial inquest they saw him inhale a white powder thought to be cocaine at a New Year’s Eve party in 2022. Stephen Gill, an industrial oil salesman, said Jenkinson used cocaine several times yearly and likely took it early on 1 January. He saw a white powder on a toolbox at the party shed around 8 pm. Gill testified, “Four or five times a year. Probably three or four lines throughout the night.” Ross Meadows, a digital marketing director and Jenkinson’s close friend, said he saw Jenkinson snort cocaine around 9 pm at the same party. Meadows commented, “Nothing good comes from that shit.” Autopsy results showed Jenkinson tested positive for cocaine. A previous safety study said the drug was unlikely to have directly affected him during the crash. Meadows called Jenkinson a “phenomenal pilot” and said he never reported his friend’s drug use, stating, “He was his own person. I’m not responsible.” The crash also killed British newlyweds Ronald and Diane Hughes, and Sydney mother Vanessa Tadros. Vanessa’s son Nicholas, who lost a leg in the crash, attended the inquest on Tuesday with his father. Meadows' company had worked on social media marketing for Sea World Helicopters. Sea World owner Village Roadshow sold joy flights to Sea World Helicopters in 2019. The inquest will hear from Sea World Helicopters executives next week.