Ardmore Flying School has confirmed the names of two pilots who died in a small plane crash in the Kaimanawa Ranges on Saturday.
They were Zakir Ali Parkar and Pete Callagher.
Their Diamond DA42 Twin Star plane was last seen on radar about 40km south-southeast of Taupō. It was reported missing on Saturday night about 10pm.
Police said the bodies of the two men have been recovered and the Transport Accident Investigation Commission (TAIC) said three investigators were due at the crash site this morning.
Ardmore chief executive Ian Calvert said Parkar and Callagher were both ex-students and employees of the flying school.