MOSCOW (Sputnik) – Two men died in a helicopter crash in Queenstown, the town in the south-west of New Zealand's South Island, on Thursday, the national search and rescue organization reported.
The wreckage of the Robinson 44 helicopter was found in the Lochy River basin after being reported overdue earlier in the day, the Rescue Coordination Centre New Zealand (RCCNZ) said as quoted by local media.
Two men on board did not survive the crash, RCCNZ said, adding that the helicopter did not send any distress signal before the crash.
"This is obviously a tragic outcome and our thoughts are very much with the families of those involved," RCCNZ spokesman Keith Allen said as quoted by The New Zealand Herald.
The country's transport accident investigation agency said it opened a probe into the case, aiming to find the reasons behind the tragedy and to prevent possible recurrence of similar accidents.
