9 died in a skydiving plane crash – New Zealand's worst aviation incident after 17 years
Fox Glacier. Nine died, one survivor in a Fletcher aircraft crash early this afternoon in Fox Glacier, New Zealand as it took off the the airstrip at 130 pm their local time. The plane was owned by a skydiving company.
Among the dead were 4 foreigners from Britain, Ireland, Australia and Germany, police said. The others including the pilot were all locals.
Embassies of each overseas victim have been informed, police said.
Fox has about 200 people in the community. There is only one skydiving company, Skydive New Zealand, operating in the place and the said company cancelled its skydiving schedule for the day after the incident.
“It is a well-established company down here and has a huge reputation,” Mayor Maureen Pugh of Westland District said.
Transport Minister Steven Joyce has extended his condolences to the families, friends and colleagues of dead.
Some locals were watching the Canterbury earthquake on television when they heard the loud sound of the crash.
The incident is believed to be the country’s worst aviation accident after seventeen years.
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