Aussies feared dead in PNG crash
TWO Australians and a New Zealander are feared dead after a helicopter issued a mayday call and disappeared yesterday afternoon in Papa New Guinea.
Searching has continued throughout today after the aircraft, a Bell 206 LongRanger, was reported missing.
A mayday call was broadcast approximately five minutes after the Hevilift helicopter departed the InterOil Drill Rig site 3.25pm (local PNG time) on Friday. The two pilots and an aircraft engineer on board were Hevilift employees.
The location where the helicopter may be is a thickly forested area and no ELT/EPIRB distress signals have been picked up.
It is believed they were heading for Hou Creek to refuel. The conditions at the time were believed to be low cloud with reduced visibility but Visual Meteorological Conditions for flying on sight rather than instruments existed , the company said.
Read more at Brisbanetimes.com.au
