Scoop has an Ethical Paywall
Work smarter with a Pro licence Learn More

Local Govt | National News Video | Parliament Headlines | Politics Headlines | Search

 

Fatal helicopter Crash

Fatal helicopter Crash

Emergency services responded to a fatal Helicopter crash on the Criffel Range, near Wanaka last night.

Sergeant Aaron Nicholson, the Wanaka Police SAR Coordinator, confirmed that a Robinson 22 Helicopter crashed at about 8.40pm last night, Thursday 8th of November 2012. He stated that Police, Fire, St John and LandSAR personnel all responded with some urgency to the scene with support from the Otago rescue helicopter out of Dunedin and another Helicopter from Queenstown.

Nicholson stated that the joint response ran very smoothly and emergency services, including LandSAR teams, got to the site to find significant wreckage and the sole occupant, near the wreckage, deceased.

Fire crews on site contained any fire risk, while Police enquiries and scene examination confirmed the Pilot was the only person in the helicopter.

Further enquiries indicated that the deceased and a friend had earlier flown from Queenstown to Wanaka Airport to pick up another light aircraft and then both returned to Queenstown via the Cardrona Valley, one flying the aircraft the other flying the R22 Helicopter. The deceased's friend arrived in Queenstown unaware of any incident involving the R22 Helicopter.

The deceased was a 52 year old woman from Queenstown. NOK are yet to be advised and it is expected that the deceased name will be released later this morning.

Police have reported the matter to the Coroner and Civil Aviation Authority for further investigation.

ends

Advertisement - scroll to continue reading

Are you getting our free newsletter?

Subscribe to Scoop’s 'The Catch Up' our free weekly newsletter sent to your inbox every Monday with stories from across our network.

© Scoop Media

Advertisement - scroll to continue reading
 
 
 
Parliament Headlines | Politics Headlines | Regional Headlines

 
 
 
 
 
 

LATEST HEADLINES

  • PARLIAMENT
  • POLITICS
  • REGIONAL
 
 

InfoPages News Channels


 
 
 
 

Join Our Free Newsletter

Subscribe to Scoop’s 'The Catch Up' our free weekly newsletter sent to your inbox every Monday with stories from across our network.