2 dead in small plane crash on New Zealand’s North Island

A small plane has crashed in the Kaimanawa mountain range in New Zealand, killing two people, local officials say. The cause was not immediately known.

Police were alerted late on Saturday night that a light aircraft was reported overdue, but poor weather delayed the search and rescue operation. A helicopter was able to land in the area on Sunday morning.

The missing plane was found at 11:30 a.m., according to Senior Sergeant Tony Jeurissen of New Zealand Police. The bodies of two men were later recovered.

The cause of Saturday’s accident was not immediately known, and there is no word on the identities of those on board the plane.