The body of a man has been recovered two days after a helicopter vanished and later crashed in rugged terrain in north‑east New South Wales. Police say the aircraft departed the Gold Coast at 9am on Friday but never arrived in Mudgee, prompting concerns late that evening.
Authorities were alerted around 8pm when the helicopter failed to reach its destination. A large multi‑agency search effort was launched, and by 2pm Saturday the wreckage was discovered in dense bushland north of Drake, in the Tenterfield region.
NSW Police confirmed on Sunday that a body believed to be that of the 77‑year‑old pilot and sole occupant was found almost 24 hours after the aircraft was located. A recovery operation is underway with assistance from PolAir and Police Rescue.
The Australian Transport Safety Bureau has deployed investigators from Brisbane and Canberra to examine the Robinson R44 helicopter. Over the coming days, they will survey the crash site, analyse the wreckage, retrieve components for technical examination, interview witnesses, and collect flight‑tracking data, maintenance logs and weather information.
The cause of the crash remains under investigation.
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