An Invercargill Police search and rescue team has arrived in Te Anau with plans to start a recovery operation in relation to the crash of a Hughes 500 helicopter which failed to arrive at its destination at Dumpling Hut on the Milford Track last evening.
The Police SAR crew will accompany a Southern Lakes helicopter crew out to the scene of the crash this morning.
Depending on the weather for the day, they will begin a recovery operation.
Weather in the area is currently satisfactory but rain is possible later in the day.
Searchers yesterday located the wreckage of a Hughes 500 helicopter at 9.15pm in the Milford Area, in a search coordinated by the Rescue Coordination Centre New Zealand (RCCNZ).
The wrecked helicopter was located in steep terrain at Glade Burn near the start of the Milford Track. The pilot, the sole occupant on board, was not located yesterday by searchers. Information suggests that the impact was not survivable.
The helicopter had been travelling from Greenstone Valley to Dumpling Hut on the Milford Track.
ENDS
Released by Senior Sergeant Cynthia Fairley, Western Southland Sub-Area Commander