Small Aircraft Crash Claims Two Lives in New Zealand
(MENAFN) Two people lost their lives after a small plane went down in a remote part of New Zealand's South Island near Nelson on Tuesday, police confirmed.
The aircraft's wreckage was found south of Castor Peak after authorities launched a search for the missing plane, Nelson Area Commander Steven Collins said in an official statement.
Police received a report shortly before midday local time (2300GMT Monday) that the aircraft had failed to arrive as expected. A search operation was subsequently organized with support from Maritime New Zealand's Rescue Coordination Centre.
Search teams eventually located the remains of the aircraft in difficult, mountainous terrain, where two fatalities were confirmed.
Authorities said efforts to recover the victims were ongoing. Civil Aviation Authority investigators are expected to inspect the crash site as part of an inquiry into what led to the accident.
The victims' identities have not been made public, while the cause of the crash remains unknown.
Earlier, Nelson Mayor Nick Smith said the aircraft was a Cessna that had taken off from Nelson Airport at around 9.10 am local time (2010GMT Monday). It later disappeared from radar northeast of the city.
Smith said residents were waiting anxiously for updates on the search for the missing aircraft.
The aircraft's wreckage was found south of Castor Peak after authorities launched a search for the missing plane, Nelson Area Commander Steven Collins said in an official statement.
Police received a report shortly before midday local time (2300GMT Monday) that the aircraft had failed to arrive as expected. A search operation was subsequently organized with support from Maritime New Zealand's Rescue Coordination Centre.
Search teams eventually located the remains of the aircraft in difficult, mountainous terrain, where two fatalities were confirmed.
Authorities said efforts to recover the victims were ongoing. Civil Aviation Authority investigators are expected to inspect the crash site as part of an inquiry into what led to the accident.
The victims' identities have not been made public, while the cause of the crash remains unknown.
Earlier, Nelson Mayor Nick Smith said the aircraft was a Cessna that had taken off from Nelson Airport at around 9.10 am local time (2010GMT Monday). It later disappeared from radar northeast of the city.
Smith said residents were waiting anxiously for updates on the search for the missing aircraft.
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