Helicopter down in Mt Aspiring area: April 2011
Rescue helicopters were out searching for two people missing in the Mt Aspiring area last night after the helicopter they were flying failed to return to Wanaka.
The Rescue Co-ordination Centre New Zealand began a search operation about 3pm yesterday after the Wanaka Helicopters Robinson R22 was reported overdue by two hours following a training flight with a trainee and instructor onboard to Haast and back.
Wanaka police, search and rescue staff and several helicopters were involved in the search, but only two helicopters equipped with night vision and infrared equipment continued last night.
The last known position of the helicopter was near Bonar Glacier and the search operation was focusing on the Matukituki Valley and head of the Waipara Valley in Mt Aspiring National Park, west of Lake Wanaka.
Weather conditions were fine and the helicopter was equipped with an emergency locator beacon, but no signal had been detected.