Missing pilot Matt Wallis believes he died in Lake Wanaka accident, police say

The search for a missing Wanaka helicopter pilot, Matthew Timothy Wallis, was suspended for the night.

Police confirmed earlier today that Wallis was the only person on board a helicopter that was going to Lake Wanaka. yesterday

The National Police Brigade has begun searching for the lake this afternoon

Research will resume tomorrow at the first light.

Detective Sergeant Derek Shaw said the area was under heavy weather surveillance yesterday. The police do not expect Wallis to be alive anymore.

"We have now gone through a recovery phase and we do not believe that the pilot is still alive," he said

Shaw made these comments at a press conference this afternoon

Reports suggest that Wallis crashed his R44 Robinson helicopter near Stevenson Island at Lake Wanaka.

Shaw said that the national team arrived this morning. looking for them near a petroleum trail that was located yesterday.

"They will investigate the oil slick that has ceased to rise up from the lake, but the marker has indicated where it was." They arrived in Wanaka. and already deployed and they should have an indication of what they will face tonight.

He said that Alexander Helicopters had started the search after reporting that one of their helicopters had disappeared around 1 pm yesterday.

They dropped a marker in the Stevensons Arm area after finding the trail of oil and debris in the water.

The wreckage of the crash was found on the shore of the nearby Stevensons Island, as well as an oil slick found in the water 1 km to the north. . 9659002] The Maritime Rescue Coordination Center, Police and Coastguard are all involved in the search that was suspended last night until this morning.

Statement of Alpine Helicopter:
Saturday, July 21 at 12:54 a helicopter departed his base with a person on board a private flight between Wanaka Airport and the Mount Aspiring National Park. The flight was to last about 15 minutes. At 13:08, the helicopter could not be reached by radio. His latest satellite position report was at 13:13. At 1:16 pm, the aircraft was found to be late and at 1:19 pm, two aircraft were sent to search for the missing helicopter and pilot. Items specific to this aircraft were in Stevenson's Wanaka Lake. The plane and the pilot, Matthew Wallis, are now considered missing. We demand respect for an ongoing search operation and will update in a timely manner.

Six helicopters were involved in the search, including the company's three helicopters with the missing gear.

A police spokesman said he received reports of a shot down helicopter. Zelande Rescue Coordination Center Headed Operation

Metservice meteorologist, Ravi Kandula, said yesterday that the day had been "cloudy and dark with reduced visibility" since about noon in Wanaka

. at about 1000-1200 feet.

Although there were some gusts in the late morning, the wind had not been "spectacular" for most of the day.