Huey Down off Anna Bay (5 POB)

[Greg Hyde]

Fears for five people as chopper vanishes from radar off NSW

Five people — four men and a woman — are missing feared dead after a private helicopter vanished off the radar.

A massive air and sea search is underway off Anna Bay in the New South Wales Hunter region and wreckage has been spotted off the coast.

Police said an aircraft was reported as "fading off the radar" about 6.30pm on Friday before the search operation was launched.

It is understood the chopper was flying from Brisbane to Bankstown, although earlier reports said it had taken off from Coffs Harbour.

A police media statement said inquiries suggested the aircraft had five people on board — four men and a woman.

Wreckage has been spotted by aerial assets off Fingal Head, however due to adverse conditions no significant wreckage has been recovered, the police statement said.

The search, coordinated by the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA), is being assisted by officers from the NSW Police Marine Area Command, Port Stephens-Hunter Police District, Westpac Rescue Helicopter, NSW Marine Rescue, and various aerial support.

On Friday night, a severe weather warning was issued for the region where the aircraft lost contact.

The Bureau of Meteorology predicted damaging, locally destructive winds with peak gusts in excess of 125kph and average gusts of 80kph - 90kph.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-09-...f-nsw/11488838