Updated at 4pm
Police say a missing aircraft has crashed south of Castor Peak, on the Marlborough side of the Whangamoa Saddle.
Nelson Police Area Commander Steven Collins, says emergency services are responding to an aircraft crash, but that no further information was available.
"Police were notified of a plane that had been overdue just before midday and were on standby as Maritime NZ’s Rescue Coordination Centre managed a search response."
Earlier, the Rescue Coordination Centre said the plane left the city at 9.10am on Tuesday.
Flight tracking data on the website FlightRadar24 showed a Cessna Skyhawk taking off from Nelson Airport at 9.10am and flying into the hills near Whangamoa before its tracking data stopped.
Nelson Mayor Nick Smith said the Cessna could carry four people.
It "...got to an altitude of 3100ft but suddenly dropped to 1800ft when it was lost off radar near the Byrant Range 35 km north east of Nelson", he said.
Smith said Nelson was "anxiously hoping and praying" for those on board.
Nelson Aero Club confirmed it was not one of their planes.
Reporting with rnz.co.nz
