Two pilots on a training flight are in hospital after their crashed plane was found upside down in a remote valley near Queenstown this morning.
The pilots were in a Cessna aircraft operated by Milford Sound Flights which crashed between Queenstown and Te Ana about 5km south of Mt Nicholas.
Real Journeys spokeswoman Lenska Papich said the plane - Cessna ZKLAW - was on a training flight.
It was found upside down in the Von Valley between Queenstown and Te Anau after the pilots activated a locator beacon.
Maritime New Zealand said the beacon was activated at 9.15am and two helicopters - one from Southern Lakes Helicopters in Te Anau and one from Heliworks in Queenstown - arrived with paramedics at around 10.45am.
"We understand the two pilots are injured with one being transported to Invercargill Hospital and the other to [Lakes District] hospital. Outside of that we do not know the extent of their injuries," Ms Papich said.
"We are keeping the families informed as we become aware of further information, but at this point the incident is in the hands of the emergency services.''
Milford Sound Flights is a joint venture between Skyline Enterprises and Real Journeys.
