AN investigation into a helicopter crash which claimed the lives of those on board has criticised the pilot for flying too low and in an area not suitable for such training exercises.

Air accident investigators today hit out at a private flight school, branding its supervision of instructors unsatisfactory, after two men were killed in a training flight.

ALMOST a day elapsed before the emergency services were alerted to the disappearance of a helicopter, found crashed, with two crew dead on board.

Investigators probing a helicopter crash that killed a flying instructor and his student revealed today they are concerned the aircraft was missing overnight before anyone noticed.