Search for missing helicopter on Lake Wanaka

[Dave Homewood]

Search for missing helicopter on Lake Wanaka


Photo: The Otago Regional Rescue Helicopter takes off from Macpherson Street, Wanaka, this afternoon. Photo: Nikki Heath / Wanaka Sun

Rescue Coordination Centre NZ is overseeing the search for an overdue helicopter with one person on board at Lake Wanaka.

Police, Coastguard NZ, a land search and rescue team and two additional helicopters are involved in the search which commenced at 1.23pm today when RCCNZ received notification from a helicopter company that one of its Robinson helicopters was overdue and had disappeared from its tracking systems.

RCCNZ Senior Search and Rescue Officer Chris Henshaw said three helicopters from the same company retraced the flight path of the missing Robinson and observed an oil slick 1km north of Stevensons Island and wreckage on the island's shoreline.

Searchers are scouring the area on Lake Wanaka where the oil slick was seen, with a team searching Stevensons Island where the wreckage was seen.

The Transport Accident Investigation Commission has opened an inquiry into the crash.

The Chief Investigator of Accidents, Captain Tim Burfoot, said TAIC has appointed a team of two investigators, due to arrive at the accident site tomorrow.

Photo: The Otago Regional Rescue Helicopter takes off from Macpherson Street, Wanaka, this afternoon. Photo: Nikki Heath / Wanaka Sun

www.thewanakasun.co.nz/news/6693-search-missing-helicopter-on-lake-wanaka.html

[FlyingKiwi]

The missing pilot is Sir Tim Wallis' son Matt Wallis: www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12093144

Hoping for a good outcome but it doesn't sound promising.

[Dave Homewood]

How awful.

[baz62]

Fingers crossed for a good outcome.

[ZacYates]

I hadn't seen any news over the weekend and my Dad just called me to ask about this. What awful news.

Stuff said they're moving into the "recovery phase": www.stuff.co.nz/national/105664070/aviation-pioneers-son-missing-after-helicopter-crash

[Dave Homewood]

So sad

www.odt.co.nz/regions/wanaka/devastated-sir-tim-wallis-going-crash-site

Searchers pinpoint location of crashed Lake Wanaka helicopter
www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12093726

[ErrolC]

@nzdefenceforce: NEWS || One of our @nzairforce Hercules aircraft has arrived in Dunedin transporting @nznavy underwater search specialists and equipment to assist @nzpolice with the search for a missing helicopter and pilot in Lake Wanaka.

t.co/ZjZxeYj7ko

[gibbo]

Sad but unfortunately not an unexpected outcome... www.stuff.co.nz/national/105684541/the-search-police-navy-believe-they-have-located-area-of-crashed-chopper-and-pilot

At least he'll be heading back to family & friends... RIP.

[joey05]

Stuff this morning announced they have recovered a body and some wreckage. Sad loss

[Dave Homewood]

RIP. My sincere condolences to the Wallis family and all Matt's friends.

[Mustang51]

So very sad for his and the Wallis family. My condolences as well. He actually flew me around the South Island and had a great personality... and boy could he fly !

[spitfire14]

Very sad. Condolences to Matt's family, the wider Wallis family and all Matt's colleagues and friends.

[vultee43]

Very,very sad. Condolances to the Wallis family and Wanaka's aviation fraternity.