Westpac rescue helicopter crashes near Mt Pirongia

Early tonight a westpac rescue helicopter was involved in an incident near Mount Pirongia.

Image: Daniel Greany

This evening, at 5:07 pm a westpac rescue helicopter crashed into a bush at Mt Pirongia. According to St John, the helicopter went to retrieve a patient when the propeller got caught up and then went down.

The patient they were attempting to collect has moderate injuries, however, the state of the helicopter crew is unknown.

Image: Daniel Greany

The aircraft, assumed to be ZK-HHJ is a 28 year old MBB-Kawasaki BK117.

HHJ is operated by Waikato rescue helicopters, they carry out a range of rescue and patient transfer missions around the Waikato. The helicopter can cruise at 222 km/h and be launched in just 10 minutes.

The helicopter often operates multiple flights per day.