The New Zealand Airforce has found two boats with four survivors on board after they were reported missing in the Pacific near Kiribati.
The Orion's crew dropped supplies and a radio to the survivors. Photo: NZDF
However, it emerged after radio contact was established that one person had died on one of the missing boats.
The Orion aircraft left Auckland on Wednesday to help with the search, after Kiribati authorties failed to find a missing wooden fishing boat, last seen a week ago.
The Orion crew was then asked to look for a second smaller aluminium boat reported missing a few days ago.
Both boats were eventually spotted a long way out to sea. The Orion's crew dropped supplies and a radio to the survivors.