With vessels returning toRaglan following a search for the two occupants of plane that ditched in the ocean south west of Raglan this afternoon, Waikato Police say their operation will resume again at first light. The Police Dive Squad will be conducting a search of the area where the debris was located.
Incident controller, Sergeant Warren Shaw of the Waikato Search and Rescue Squad said two helicopters and a fixed wing aircraft had been used to search for the pair as well as a Raglan Coastguard vessel. The Coastguard boat recovered debris from the sea but there was no sign of the aircraft’s two occupants.
The chief executive of 2degrees Eric Hertz and his wife Kathy are believed to have been onboard the twin-engined plane which crashed into the sea south west of Raglan, this afternoon. 2degrees has confirmed that the plane involved in the crash near Raglan this afternoon was owned by their CEO Eric Hertz.
Charlene White, 2degrees communications manager, said tonight that the company had limited information but the couple were “unlikely to have survived”.
“Our focus now is to support Eric and Kathy’s daughter and provide assistance to their family,” she said.
The plane was on its way from Ardmore to Timaru when it ditched in the sea at 12.20pm.
“The search began about 12.20pm after a twin engined Beechcraft Baron aircraft ditched in the ocean near Gannet Island about 30km south west of Raglan.
“The Rescue Coordination Centre New Zealand (RCCNZ) tasked a helicopter from Auckland to search the last known position of the aircraft and this search identified an oil slick and wreckage near Gannet Island.”
Mr Shaw said the Raglan Coastguard vessel returned to shore at last light and we will look to resume the operation tomorrow morning.
“Part of tomorrow’s operation will involve the Wellington based Police Dive Squad conducting a search of the area where the debris was located.”
Waikato Police will be providing a progress update around 10am on Sunday morning.