Two die in light plane crash

Two people were killed when their light plane crashed in hills near Gibbston Valley, Queenstown, yesterday.

A helicopter was sent to the area after the National Co-ordination Centre in Wellington received an emergency beacon activation at 12.13pm, Detective Senior Sergeant Steve Wood of Otago police said in a statement.

Police were yesterday afternoon working alongside Search and Rescue and air crash investigators at the scene to determine the cause of the crash.

The names of the deceased are expected to be released today after next of kin have been advised.

- NZPA