One person airlifted to hospital following helicopter crash in Mākara, Wellington

The pilot had been flying a Robinson 66 helicopter. Photo / NZME

One person has been airlifted to hospital following a helicopter crash in Mākara in the Wellington region.

Maritime New Zealand said its Rescue Co-ordination Centre received an electronic location transmitter alert at 7.50am and sent a Wellington rescue helicopter to near Mākara Beach.

The pilot was the only person on board the Robinson 66 helicopter that crashed, Maritime New Zealand said. It was doing agricultural work at the time.

The pilot was trapped in the crashed helicopter, but was freed and flown to Wellington Hospital.

The Transport Accident Investigation Commission was investigating the accident in which a Robinson R66 helicopter crashed on coastal land near the Makara Wind Farm, to the West of Wellington.

“The helicopter, registered as ZK-IXT, was operated by SCN Helicopters Limited,” the commission said.

The activation of the helicopter’s Emergency Locator Transmitter reportedly alerted emergency services.

“The pilot was recovered by the Westpac helicopter and taken to Wellington Hospital.”

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