Family joins search for Air NZ pilot

File photo / Hawke's Bay Today

The family of an Air New Zealand pilot who went missing on a tramp in Hong Kong two days ago has joined the search for him.

First Officer Stephen John Morrissey was last seen on Wednesday while walking with Captain Mark Apperley on the Wilson trail in Hong Kong's New Territories on a day off.

While there has been no sign of him since, despite an extensive search, there was no suggestion of foul play, said Air NZ's chief pilot Captain David Morgan, who accompanied the Morrissey family from New Zealand.

"The police have certainly not raised that with us and there's nothing to suggest foul play at all," he told Radio New Zealand.

Mr Morrissey had been due to operate a service to London's Heathrow Airport today.

Mr Morgan said Hong Kong police had pulled out all the stops in the search and covered a lot of ground.

The pair became separated when Mr Apperley took a rest, and Mr Morrissey failed to meet up at the end of the track, about a kilometre away, as agreed.

After waiting for an hour, Mr Apperley returned to their hotel to raise the alarm.

The area where Mr Morrissey had gone missing was fairly easy terrain, Mr Morgan said.

"They had water and a backpack, I understand they did have some other provisions.

"Steve himself is a very fit person, he's been tramping for a number of years and he's certainly well-versed in survival techniques as well from his earlier career in the RNZAF - so it is a great mystery and the focus at the moment is absolutely trying to find Steve's location," he said.

More than 100 people have joined the police search, including a specialist dog team, and an abseiling team as parts of the trail dropped off quite steeply.

"Police are taking a very thorough approach to this particular search," Mr Morgan said.

"They're not just focusing on that part of the trail but actually looking back into the entire trail in case Steve did wander back that way."

Hospitals, hotels and other locations throughout Hong Kong had also been checked in the search.

Mr Morrissey's two sisters and sister-in-law had travelled to Hong Kong to help with the investigation.

"Terribly distressing (for his family), but they're up here, they're coping very, very well," Mr Morgan said.

Interpol was also involved.

- NZPA