Accident Details
A helicopter departed a fishing vessel on a fish spotting flight with a pilot and one crew member. Approximately one and a half hours after departure, the helicopter disappeared from radar about 27 miles from the vessel. No communications were received from the helicopter during the flight.
Search and Recovery
A search of the area revealed floating debris, aircraft fragments, and personal items. The two crew members were not located and were presumed to have received fatal injuries. The helicopter was not recovered and was presumed to have been destroyed.
Location
The accident occurred about 375 miles northeast of Madang, Papua New Guinea, in the Bismarck Sea.