Darwin search resumes for reported crash aircraft
Darwin’s CareFlight helicopter this morning has resumed the search for a light aircraft which residents reported seeing in mangroves last night.
Residents in the Nightcliff area alerted authorities last night when they saw what may have been a small aircraft in mangroves off the shore.
The Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) in Canberra which co-ordinates major sea and air searches nationally called CareFlight to conduct an aerial search of the area in the dark.
Using the helicopter’s night sun searchlight and with the crew using their night vision goggles, CareFlight spent over two hours sweeping the area from a height of several hundred metres.
Having not found any wreckage or suspicious evidence, the crew resumed the search at first light this morning.
Again sweeping the area from a low height (500ft) the crew have not found anything which may have triggered the alert overnight.
A CareFlight doctor is one of the four crew on board the helicopter which is equipped with a rescue hoist in case anything was located.
Air traffic controllers at nearby Darwin International Airport overnight told CareFlight they did not have any report of a missing aircraft.
AMSA is meeting the cost of the aerial search.
For further information please contact Ian Badham at the NRMA CareFlight office on 9843 5100.