Eye in the Sky: PolAir Aids Newcastle Police in Major Three-Night Blitz

24 March 2025

newy.com.au – Newcastle and Lake Macquarie residents have been noticing more than just stars lighting up the night sky, as NSW Police Force’s Aviation Command ramped up its presence across the region in a high-impact three-night operation.

From Thursday evening, 21 March 2025, through to the early hours of Sunday, 23 March 2025, PolAir maintained a full-time deployment as part of Operation Overwatch, supporting local police across more than 30 separate incidents ranging from missing persons to arrests and public safety responses.

The operation saw NSW Police helicopter PolAir 4, the primary aircraft used throughout the blitz, provide rapid response capability to emergency Triple Zero calls and bolster frontline efforts. Early into the mission, PolAir 4 made a strong impression, assisting with multiple high-priority incidents between 6.30pm and 10pm on Thursday night alone. This included aiding in an arrest at Lake Haven, responding to a car crash in Maitland, tracking reports of dangerous driving at Bar Beach, conducting traffic stops in Windale and Lambton, addressing anti-social behaviour in Kotara and Charlestown, and helping with a welfare concern near a Waratah hospital.

Later that same evening, Highway Patrol officers attempted to stop two unregistered trail bikes being ridden dangerously at Rutherford. When the riders fled into bushland, PolAir located the 19- and 20-year-old males, resulting in the seizure of the motorbikes and ongoing investigations.

Friday night saw another notable success when a rider on a stolen motorcycle tried to flee from police at Lambton. PolAir tracked the vehicle from the sky, leading to the bike’s recovery and the arrest and charging of the rider with several offences.

The weekend’s efforts didn’t stop there. PolAir located a missing elderly woman at Cameron Park, directed police to youths allegedly throwing rocks at Fletcher, and helped ground crews across Newcastle, Wallsend and Lambton with patrols and vehicle stops. On Saturday, 22 March 2025, the aircrew joined the search for a wanted domestic violence offender, found a stolen motorcycle in Fennell Bay, and were instrumental in the safe recovery of a missing four-year-old child at Lake Macquarie. They also illuminated scenes for police and paramedics and supported a welfare-related response involving a man at Wallsend.

Superintendent Christopher Nicholson, Commander of Aviation Command, praised the local deployment, noting that some aircrew hail from Newcastle and the Central Coast themselves. “Our aerial support provided invaluable assistance at various incidents, and residents of the Hunter Region should expect to continue to see PolAir in the coming days and weeks,” he said.

“The presence of PolAir not only deters crime but also enhances community confidence in police response capabilities. We’re proud to serve such a dynamic region and appreciate the public’s ongoing support.”

Newcastle, currently ranked as Australia’s seventh-largest urban area and boasting a population larger than Canberra, will continue to be a focal point for future deployments. Operation Overwatch remains active across New South Wales, with further aerial support planned as required.