This article is more than 1 year old

This article is more than 1 year old

The search continues for a pilot and four passengers who are feared dead after a helicopter crashed into waters off the New South Wales coast, with authorities seeking witnesses who could have seen the aircraft in distress.

Police are spearheading the recovery operation after the Bell UH1 helicopter dropped off the radar near Anna Bay, north of Newcastle, early on Friday night.

The aircraft belonged to the Brisbane Helicopters owner and pilot David Kerr, who is believed to have been flying it at the time.

The Queenslanders Jamie Ogden and Grant Kuhnemann and NSW couple Jocelyn Villanueva and Gregory Miller are also believed to have been on board.

NSW police have called for anyone who may have seen the helicopter in distress, and anyone who filmed or photographed the aircraft on Friday night to come forward.

The Australian Defence Force on Sunday confirmed Miller was an employee but said he was not on duty at the time of the crash. The force is engaging with authorities to help with recovery efforts, a spokesperson said in a statement on Sunday.

Ogden’s brother Darren has reportedly flown to Nelson Bay from Queensland after hearing about the crash. He told ABC News that his brother “lived life to the fullest”.

The Australian Transport Safety Bureau is investigating, with officers from Canberra travelling to the area to examine the recovered wreckage, interview witnesses and inspect aircraft and pilot records.

The bureau also called for any witnesses who may have seen the helicopter to contact them as they investigate the circumstances of the crash.

“Witness reports can help provide invaluable information to ATSB investigators as they begin the task of determining the circumstances of this tragic accident,” the bureau said on Facebook.

“The ATSB expresses its deepest sympathies to the families and friends of those on board the helicopter.”

The Australian Maritime Safety Authority said the helicopter had been on a private flight between Coffs Harbour and Bankstown in Sydney’s southwest.

It launched the search for the aircraft on Friday night and spotted an oil slick and several pieces of debris.

Most of the wreckage was uncovered on Saturday, with the helicopter’s tail rotor found by water police about 8.45am.

A Westpac rescue helicopter spotted the main airframe of the aircraft less than an hour later, roughly 8km south of Fingal Bay. The crew watched as it sank before boats could retrieve it.

The aircraft went missing amid poor conditions with low visibility, high winds and dust in the air.

Air traffic control indicated the aircraft was rapidly losing altitude when contact was lost, and no emergency beacon signals or mayday calls were detected.

Civil Aviation Safety Authority records show the 1960s US military helicopter – famously known as a “Huey” – was registered for use by Brisbane Helicopters in October last year.