Port Stephens missing helicopter: wreckage found at Yacaaba Headland, Hawks Nest

NSW Police Force Marine Area Command and NSW Police divers made the grim discovery just after 12pm today.

Emergency services still haven't found a trace of the 54-year-old man on board or his dog, who were reported missing in northern NSW after they took off from Cessnock on Thursday morning.

It's understood the pilot was travelling to either Wallis Island near Forster or Belmore River near Kempsey, but never arrived.

An extensive land and sea search was launched around the Port Stephens area, close to where the aircraft was discovered earlier today.

Police are in the process of examining the wreckage and said more information will be provided once it becomes available.

EMERGENCY services have resumed the search for a helicopter that went missing off the Hunter coast with a man and dog on board.

A NSW Police spokeswoman told the Newcastle Herald the major multi-agency search operation continued this morning.

"About 8am today, officers from Port Stephens-Hunter Police District, with assistance from the Marine Area Command, NSW SES and Surf Lifesaving NSW resumed an extensive land and sea search around the Port Stephens area," she said.

"As investigations continue, anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000."

The search was temporarily called off before 6pm on Friday after debris was found at Bennetts Beach at Hawks Nest earlier in the day.

It has not yet been confirmed whether that debris belonged to the missing helicoper, but it was seized by police for forensic testing.

A MAJOR search operation for a helicopter that went missing with a man and dog on board off the Hunter coast has been suspended.

Emergency services spent all day on Friday combing the Port Stephens and Hawks Nest areas from the land, sea and sky in an effort to find the missing aircraft and its passengers.

NSW Police confirmed the operation had been called off temporarily before 6pm on Friday and would resume at 8am on Saturday.

Debris was discovered at Bennetts Beach at Hawks Nest earlier on Friday, which was seized by police for forensic testing.

It has not been confirmed if the debris that has been recovered belonged to the missing helicopter.

The multi-agency search was launched after a 54-year-old man and his pet dog travelling by chopper failed to arrive at their destination - which police have been told was either Wallis Island near Forster or Belmore River near Kempsey.

Police said the pilot and dog had taken off from Cessnock on Thursday morning.

State Emergency Service (SES) crews were doing line searches at Bennetts Beach on Friday afternoon, a Surf Lifesaving drone was deployed over the water and the Westpac Rescue Helicopter was circling the Port Stephens and Hawks Nest areas.

Multiple police vehicles, including specialist marine and rescue crews, were tasked to help with the search effort, backed by Marine Rescue NSW crews for several hours.

A Westpac rescue helicopter spokesman said paramedics first called in the chopper on Friday morning after the missing aircraft was reported as overdue at its destination.

A Marine Rescue NSW boat was deployed with crews on board to assist the operation about 8am on Friday, October 27.

They searched the bay at Port Stephens before joining water police further offshore.

"The Marine Rescue NSW boat is now conducting a parallel line search with a water police vessel from Port Stephens Heads, north to Bennetts Beach," Inspector Raymond said.

Marine Rescue NSW crews were called off about 1.30pm on Friday.

The ocean off Bennetts Beach at Hawks Nest was rough on Friday as emergency services worked, though the earlier wet weather had cleared by the afternoon.

Concerned community members stopped to watch the search unfold, with a large emergency service presence drawing attention.

Anyone with information should contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

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