UPDATE #10 Search for missing aircraft in Nelson region

Searching has resumed for the helicopter missing since Tuesday morning in an area of Kahurangi National Park 35km west of Motueka, in the Nelson region.

Five helicopters and six ground teams are again in action, with weather conditions good.

The Robinson 44 helicopter with one person on board went missing on Tuesday morning during a flight from Karamea on the West Coast to Nelson.

No emergency beacon signal was detected and the search area is based on information from the helicopter’s tracking system which sent a signal every three minutes.

The area being searched is around 5km in each direction from the last signal received.

Rescue Coordination Centre New Zealand (RCCNZ) search and rescue coordinator Neville Blakemore said

“Because of the steep terrain and the dense bush, it is very difficult to see what is below the canopy of the trees. We will be repeating the search of some areas to see if the different light at different times of the day reveals some clues about what has happened.”

ENDS

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