Body of man located following helicopter crash

The body of a man, believed to be the pilot of a helicopter that crashed yesterday, has been located in the Omaru Valley.

The Robinson helicopter failed to return from a trip to drop off hunters into the area yesterday afternoon and the wreckage of the aircraft was spotted from the air at approximately 7pm.

This morning a fixed wing aircraft and the Taupo Rescue Helicopter assisted police search and rescue personnel to try to locate the pilot. The rescue helicopter was able to winch six police officers and a police dog into the area and at approximately 11.30am they located the body of a man about 50 metres from the wreckage.

The family of the 39-year-old Wairarapa pilot have been advised of the discovery. The man and the police staff will be airlifted from the area this afternoon. This process will take some time.

The man will not be named until he has been recovered from the area and a formal identification can be carried out.

A crash investigation is underway.

ENDS

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