All six passengers and the pilot have been killed in the crash that took place over the popular tourist spot Fox Glacier located to the west of New Zealand’s South Island, according police.
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Rescue Coordination Centre spokesman Vince Cholewa said just before 2pm an alpine cliff rescue team was being winched down to the crash site along with the paramedic. I am not going to risk any more lives, we have lost already seven people.
The nationalities of those on board is not yet known.
Grey district mayor Tony Kokshoorn said the weather was marginal at the time of the crash, with intermittent rain showers and low clouds.
Rescuers are battling hard conditions as they try to reach a helicopter that crashed at Fox Glacier this morning with seven people on board.
“The aircraft was carrying the pilot and six passengers”.
The south Westland firm, Alpine Adventures, has confirmed that the crashed helicopter belonged to the company, the New Zealand Herald reported.
New Zealand Police said it would coordinate the recovery and scene examination, which is likely to take days.
(CNN)Seven people are feared dead after a sightseeing helicopter crashed in New Zealand, police said.
Two other helicopters were flying from Christchurch and one had left Greymouth.
Four tourists who perished in the 2010 crash near Fox Glacier’s parents afterwards wrote to New Zealand Prime Minister John Key to encourage him to improve security measures in the sector. The Fox Glacier is a popular tourist destination and several private helicopters carry tourists to the glaciers frequently. Four were tourists and five were locals.
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Four crash investigators from the Transport Accident Investigation Commission are expected to begin reviewing the site.
