A team of investigators is visiting the site of a helicopter crash that injured four on a luxury golf resort in Canterbury yesterday.
The crash happened after takeoff, Civil Aviation Authority said. Photo: SUPPLIED/ Stuff - John Kirk-Anderson
Three people on board were seriously injured, while a fourth person suffered moderate injuries.
The Civil Aviation Authority said it has launched an investigation into the accident, which involved a bride, groom, photographer and pilot.
The agency said its team will begin a scene examination and gather witness statements to understand the cause of the crash.
In an interview on the NZ Herald website, the resort's group operations manager Ronnie Ronalde said the bride and groom went off in the helicopter for photos.
Shortly after takeoff, golfers saw the helicopter hit a fairway.
"It's horrible, horrible. Just the confusion, they're all waiting for their families to have all the photos, and then this accident happens, so devastating for all the family and the staff," Ronalde told the NZ Herald.
Police were called to the golf course at Windwhistle, 80km west of Christchurch just after 3pm on Saturday.
St John's Ambulance say all four people were taken to Christchurch hospital.
The three people with serious injuries were taken by helicopter.