The wreckage of a Eurocopter helicopter with three people on board has been found this evening in Watagans National Park, south of Cessnock.
The Australian Maritime Safety Authority's search and rescue team has been coordinating the hunt today and confirmed there were no survivors on board.
A paramedic from one of 10 rescue helicopters involved in the search was winched down and confirmed the wreckage was from the missing Eurocopter.
AMSA was contacted this morning after the twin-engine helicopter with three people on board had not been heard from since it left Breeza, south-west of Tamworth, on Saturday evening.
Northern beaches businessman turned photographer Richard Green and his wife Carolyn were on board the helicopter, along with 71-year-old film maker John Davis.
The flight journey should have taken about two hours, and no mayday or emergency beacon had been detected despite the helicopter not arriving at its destination in northern Sydney.
The alarm was raised after the group did not return to Terrey Hills. Mr Davis' wife had been away over the weekend and contacted police this morning about 6am.
The group had travelled to Breeza to attend a protest against the Shenua Coal mine on the Liverpool Plain.
The search area was focused to the area where the wreckage was found following information provided by Airservices Australia.
Weather conditions were severe in the Hunter region on Saturday night, with thunderstorms and rain possibly playing a factor in the crash.
AMSA said it extends its condolences to the families and friends of those on board the helicopter and thanked all those involved in the search.
