New Zealand's Fox Glacier
Investigations will begin today into the cause of Saturday’s plane crash at Fox Glacier which killed all nine people on board.
Tragedy struck, killing the four tourists and five locals, when the small Skydive New Zealand aircraft burst into flames shortly after take off from the west coast township.
The travellers involved have since been named by police as 26-year-old Patrick Byrne, from County Wexford, Ireland; 18-year-old Glen Bourke, from Victoria, Australia; 23-year-old Annita Kirsten, from Germany; and 24-year-old Brad Coker, from Farnborough, England.
The New Zealanders who died were Skydive New Zealand director Rodney Miller, 55, pilot Chaminda Senadhira, 33, dive masters Adam Bennett, 47, Michael Suter, 32 and Christopher McDonald, 62.
The tragedy is New Zealand’s worst aviation disaster in 17 years. The investigation could take up to a year.
Skydive New Zealand has operated out of Fox Glacier for 12 years and is a member of the NZ Parachute Industry Association.
Meanwhile, The Age reported attempts by Kiwi Experience to send counsellors to the site were being hampered yesterday by the Christchurch earthquake.
The report stated victim Glenn Bourke was on a bus tour with a female friend when the tragedy occurred.
Kiwi Experience chief financial officer Ian Lewington said the skydive was an optional extra offered to customers.
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