By 3 News staff
The New Zealander missing in Papua New Guinea after a possible helicopter crash has been named.
The Hevilift helicopter carrying one New Zealander and two Australians broadcast a mayday call on Friday, but since then searchers have been unable to locate it
The crew’s employer has named the New Zealander as 49-year-old pilot Antony Annan and one of the Australians as pilot Russell Aitken, 42.
The name of the third man, an aircraft engineer, has been withheld at his family’s request.
The Bell 206 helicopter had just left a drilling site in Mount Hagen on Friday when it broadcast the distress call, but searchers have been unable to pick up its emergency locator beacon. It is believed they were heading to Hou Creek to refuel before planning to return to their base in Mount Hagen.
Yesterday seven other helicopters were involved in the search.
The search will continue this morning.
3 News