Two people were killed in a helicopter crash in remote terrain northwest of Queenstown yesterday during a chartered hunting trip in Mount Aspiring National Park, police say.
Emergency services were alerted to the crash at around 9.50am on Sunday, with the aircraft crashing into a mountainside in rugged alpine terrain in Otago’s backcountry.
In a statement on Sunday evening, police confirmed the helicopter was charted for a hunting expedition at the time of the crash.
"The two people who died were the sole occupants of the craft at the time," Detective Sergeant Sarah Waugh said.
"Three others from the hunting group were located on the ground and taken to safety."
Maritime NZ's Rescue Coordination Centre initially led the response, working alongside police and air ambulance services to coordinate the operation.
"We want to thank the agencies that provided support during this response. This was a tragic incident and our thoughts go out to everyone impacted by what happened this morning."
Waugh said the deaths had been referred to the Coroner.
The Civil Aviation Authority and the Transport Accident Investigation Commission had been notified.
TAIC said it was inquiring into the accident.
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