The search for two men onboard a missing light plane has resumed this morning after it went missing over the Tararua Ranges on Sunday evening.
An Airforce helicopter is currently on the scene of the aircraft’s last known position, high in the mountains on the eastern side of the Ranges.
Rescue Coordination Centre spokesperson Vince Cholewa says the team on board will scour the area while another works on foot from the end of Putara Road, Eketahuna.
The plane failed to land at Paraparaumu last night after taking off from Foxpine Airstrip, near Foxton at 3.16pm yesterday. Emergency services were called in around 8pm after it failed to touch down at Kāpiti Coast Airport.
Searches along the plane’s flight path were carried out by Police, Fire and Emergency New Zealand and an Air Force helicopter yesterday but were unsuccessful in locating the pair.
Maritime New Zealand told 1 NEWS the private aircraft did not have an emergency transmitter on board but the pilot has a personal locator beacon which hasn’t yet been activated.
LANDSAR will also head out this morning, beginning their efforts from Putara Road, Eketahuna.
The Rescue Coordination Centre, part of Maritime New Zealand, are coordinating the search.
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