RCCNZ coordinating search for missing helicopter at Lake Wanaka

21 July 2018
Rescue Coordination Centre NZ is overseeing the search for an overdue helicopter with one person on board at Lake Wanaka.

The search commenced at 1.23 pm 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 one kilometre north of Stevenson Island and wreckage on the island's shoreline.

RCCNZ is currently working with the Police, Coastguard NZ, a land search and rescue team and two additional helicopters to expand the search.

Searchers will scour the area on Lake Wanaka where the oil slick was seen, Henshaw said. Another team will land on Stevenson Island where wreckage was seen to establish if further information can be gleaned.

Further updates will be provided if available. TAIC will be investigating the incident.

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