Three ships of the Royal Australian Navy were deployed to the South-west Pacific, taking up station in international waters near Fiji, while several military transport aircraft were kept on standby.

[2] On 29 November 2006, a S-70 Blackhawk operating from Kanimbla crashed while attempting to land on the ship's deck, falling overboard and sinking in 3,000 metres (9,800 ft) of water.

Nine of the ten crewmembers were rescued, with one, the pilot Captain Mark Bingley, dying from injuries.

[4] The predicted coup d'état was carried out with minimal violence and no bloodshed on 4–5 December 2006, with government officials placed under house arrest and Fiji's parliament dissolved.

The feared violence had not occurred, and civilian flights to Fiji continued without disruption during the takeover.