MEDIA RELEASE
Date: 30 November 2004
Time: 05:05 pm

Update on search for missing aircraft

The search for the two crew members of an aircraft missing on Mount Taranaki is continuing despite some of the Mountain Rescue teams having to be withdrawn due to the terrible weather conditions.

About 30 trained experts, being coordinated by Rescue Coordination Centre New Zealand (RCCNZ) and the NZ Police, were searching the mountain in difficult terrain.

The teams were withdrawn for safety reasons but will remain nearby ready to re-join the search when conditions improve.

The missing aircraft is a Piper Seneca PA 34 owned by Nelson-based Flight Corporation Ltd and was on the return leg of a Nelson to New Plymouth trip.

RCCNZ is keeping Flight Corporation fully informed of the search operation.

“We are concentrating on supporting the families and staff involved and know right now that all that can be done is being done,” Flight Corporation CEO Simon Palmer says.

Senior Search & Rescue Officer Geoff Lunt says despite the atrocious conditions the search would continue until all possibilities had been exhausted.

ENDS

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