The Commission is inquiring into an accident on 17 May 2026 involving a commercially operated Airbus AS350B3 helicopter, registration ZK-IJW. The reported circumstances were that the helicopter crashed into a mountainside in Mount Aspiring National Park approximately 24 kilometres west of Makarora, north of Wanaka. Reportedly, there were two fatalities and three passengers with minor injuries.
Executive summary Tuhinga whakarāpopoto
The Commission is inquiring into an accident on 17 May 2026 involving a commercially operated Airbus AS350B3 helicopter, registration ZK-IJW. The reported circumstances were that the helicopter crashed into a mountainside in Mount Aspiring National Park approximately 24 kilometres west of Makarora, north of Wanaka. Reportedly, there were two fatalities and three passengers with minor injuries.