Search for missing helicopter comes up empty

The search for two men feared dead after their helicopter went missing on Friday has come up empty today, despite the best efforts of 16 helicopters and eight ground teams.

Liquor baron Michael Erceg, from Auckland, and Gus Klatte, of the Netherlands, are missing after the Eurocopter, which left Auckland shortly before 10am on Friday, disappeared from radar contact 30 minutes later.

It was last seen on radar south of Raglan, and did not make the first of its scheduled refuelling stops at Wanganui on its way to Queenstown.

Rescue Co-ordination Centre mission co-ordinator John Dickson said today's ground and air search of the Mount Korioi area, where the missing helicopter was last sighted by radar, had failed to turn up anything.

The 16 helicopters would tomorrow concentrate on the Mokau, Taranaki area through to Wanganui after three sightings believed to be of the missing helicopter about 11am on Friday.

"This is very welcome news, as it tightens our search area considerably," Mr Dickson said.

"Prior to these sightings, the last confirmed sighting was south of Raglan Harbour at 10.14am on Friday. These new sightings reduce the search area by about a third."

The involvement of 16 helicopters was necessary because the search area was large and the going slow.

"So a large number of helicopters enables us to carry out the search as quickly and as thoroughly as possible, which is critical in case the two men are injured," Mr Dickson said.

Ten helicopters were initially involved in today's aerial search of Mount Korioi, along with eight ground teams each comprising four volunteers.

Mr Erceg's family had yesterday put up several helicopters to join the search but all were now being paid for by the Rescue Co-ordination Centre.

The costs involved in such a huge search were not available.

Raglan police constable Dave Litton told the Herald on Sunday six or seven residents had reported hearing the helicopter on Friday, with one reporting hearing a loud bang and a second a noise like a rotor motor slowing down.

Mr Erceg, of Auckland, is the founder and managing director of Independent Liquor and has a fortune estimated at $620 million.

Independent Liquor is an alcoholic beverage manufacturer and marketer. Its major business is its own brands of ready to drink alcoholic beverages but it also produces brands of beer, liqueurs and spirits.

The Sunday Star-Times reported today that Mr Klatte was believed to be the international exports director of Dutch brewery Grolsch International.

- NZPA