Scoop has an Ethical Paywall
Search for missing plane near Foxton ramps up
An airforce chopper and land-based search and rescue crews have arrived in the Tararua Ranges to search for a light plane that went missing last night.
The Tararua Ranges are the focus of a search for a missing plane. Photo: RNZ / Jamie Tahana
Search and Rescue mission co-ordinator Keith Allen told Morning Report the plane had two Kapiti men onboard who were undertaking a training flight.
He said the plane was a two-seater Tecnam, popular with training flights and one of the men was an instructor.
"It appears they were reasonably regular fliers."
Search and Rescue crews could not search the precise area of the plane's last radar plot overnight due to poor weather conditions.
"We did carry out a helicopter search around the Foxpine Airstrip in case there had been some form of accident on take-off.
"The radar plots show the plane taking off from Foxpine and tracking to the west and going over the Tararua Range.
"Given the height they were at last night it would have been reasonably strong winds and probably some sort of rain."
Mr Allen said a new search would get underway shortly.
"At the present time an RNZAF NH90 helicopter is leaving Ohakea as soon as possible and headed to the last known position with a land SAR team on it as well to support any sightings that they have."
Four people would go in the helicopter and four others were on standby from the road end nearest Eketahuna.
He said crews had a window to search this morning, before the weather deteriorated.
Conditions are windy in the mountains, with MetService warning of severe gales in exposed areas.
"Given the information we have from the radar plots we are hoping the search area will not be that great."
Police LandSAR are also assisting with the search.
The plane was due to land in Paraparaumu at 8pm last night.
Rescue Coordination Centre spokesperson Vince Cholewa said the last radar plot was at 2.41pm yesterday on the eastern side of the Tararua Ranges, high in the mountains west of Eketahuna.
Mr Cholewa said the plane had no emergency locator transmitter but the pilot would have been carrying a personal locator beacon.
RNZ
New Zealand's public broadcaster, providing comprehensive NZ news and current affairs, specialist audio features and documentaries.
Radio New Zealand is a Crown entity established under the Radio New Zealand Act 1995. Radio New Zealand News are vital elements in our programming, providing impartial news and information to New Zealanders every day. Radio New Zealand (RNZ) provides listeners with exciting and independent radio programmes in accordance with the Radio New Zealand Charter.
Gordon Campbell: On The Coalition’s Awful, Not Good, Very Bad Poll Results
Ian Powell: Policy Vacuum Enables For-profit Corporate General Practice Ownership By Stealth
Gordon Campbell: On Iran Killing Its Rappers, And Searching For The Invisible Dr. Reti
Peter Dunne: MPs Unusually Quiet On Pay Rise
Ian Powell: Cuba And New Zealand: A Relationship Worthy Of Strengthening
Gordon Campbell: On bird flu, AUKUS entry fees and Cindy Lee