Aircraft ditches in sea - update

The search for two people missing after an aircraft ditched in the sea off Kawhia at around 12.20pm today is now a Police operation.

The Rescue Coordination Centre New Zealand (RCCNZ) transferred authority to the Police after an intensive search of an area 11 nautical miles (20km) north west of the entrance to Kawhia harbour, near Gannet Island, where oil and wreckage were found. No sign of the people onboard was found.

The aircraft, a twin-engine Beechcraft Baron, was travelling from Ardmore to Timaru and radioed Airways New Zealand to report engine failure shortly before disappearing off radar.

RCCNZ Search and Rescue Mission Controller John Dickson said the area had been intensively searched using helicopters, a Coastguard fixed-wing aircraft, and a Raglan Coastguard vessel.

“We are confident that if the people onboard had been on the surface, they would have been found,” Mr Dickson said. “This is obviously an extremely difficult time for the families of those involved and our thoughts are with them.”

The water in the area is about 60m deep.

ENDS

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