Skydivers die as plane crashes in flames
Source: Agencies |
September 5, 2010, Sunday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
A LIGHT aircraft carrying skydivers crashed in flames near a popular tourist spot in New Zealand's Southern Alps yesterday, killing nine people including four foreign tourists, police said.
The plane caught fire after takeoff from an airstrip at Fox Glacier on the country's South Island, said Ian Henderson, an ambulance spokesman.
But other locals said the fire erupted when the plane crashed into a fence at the end of the runway after it failed to lift off safely.
The pilot and eight passengers were killed, according to the police. Four tourists from Ireland, England, Germany and Australia were among the dead.
Police would not release names until next of kin had been informed and the bodies were to remain at the crash site until today when they will be moved to Dunedin Hospital for autopsies.
In addition to the pilot, four New Zealanders -- reportedly skydiving instructors -- were killed in the crash.
New Zealand's stuff.co.nz website said there was only one skydiving company operating out of the Fox Glacier airstrip, Skydive New Zealand, but a company spokeswoman refused to comment.
Police said the aircraft was a Fletcher fixed-wing plane of a type designed and built in New Zealand.
Fox Glacier is on the western coast of the South Island, about 150 kilometers from the main city, Christchurch.
The plane caught fire after takeoff from an airstrip at Fox Glacier on the country's South Island, said Ian Henderson, an ambulance spokesman.
But other locals said the fire erupted when the plane crashed into a fence at the end of the runway after it failed to lift off safely.
The pilot and eight passengers were killed, according to the police. Four tourists from Ireland, England, Germany and Australia were among the dead.
Police would not release names until next of kin had been informed and the bodies were to remain at the crash site until today when they will be moved to Dunedin Hospital for autopsies.
In addition to the pilot, four New Zealanders -- reportedly skydiving instructors -- were killed in the crash.
New Zealand's stuff.co.nz website said there was only one skydiving company operating out of the Fox Glacier airstrip, Skydive New Zealand, but a company spokeswoman refused to comment.
Police said the aircraft was a Fletcher fixed-wing plane of a type designed and built in New Zealand.
Fox Glacier is on the western coast of the South Island, about 150 kilometers from the main city, Christchurch.
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