Pakistanis angry over detentions in Times Sq. case Monday, May 24, 2010
ISLAMABAD – Relatives of three men detained by Pakistan for alleged links to the suspect in the attempted Times Square bombing say the men are innocent.
They
AFP - Thursday, August 6TAIPEI (AFP) - - Taiwan's Beijing-friendly government on Wednesday denied boycotting an Australian film festival amid a row over the e
BERLIN (Reuters) - Chancellor Angela Merkel suffered a double blow on Thursday as a senior party ally in east German
Minister seeks closure of anti-Berlusconi websites Wednesday, December 16, 2009
ROME (AFP) - – The Italian government moved Tuesday to close down Internet sites encouraging further violence against Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, who
By ELAINE KURTENBACH,AP Business Writer AP - Wednesday, March 18SHANGHAI - Asia's stock market rally seemed to be running out of steam Wednesday, despite an
Navigation
Primary Navigation
Home
Singapore
Asia Pacific
World
Business
Entertainment
Sports
Technology
Top Stories
Most Popular
Secondary Navigation
Australia
China
India
Indonesia
Japan
Malaysia
Philippines
Thailand
Vietnam
Search
Search:
Air New Zealand mourns staff believed dead in French air crash
AFP - 55 minutes ago
WELLINGTON (AFP) - - Air New Zealand was Friday mourning the expected loss of four staff after one of its Airbus A320 aircraft crashed during a test flight in the south of France.
French authorities said two bodies had been recovered and five people were missing and believed dead after the plane crashed into the Mediterranean Sea near the southern city of Perpignan on Thursday.
The aircraft had been leased to charter firm XL Airways since 2006 and two of the German airline's pilots had been flying the aircraft in the test flight before its scheduled return to Air New Zealand.
Hundreds of shocked Air New Zealand staff gathered at the airline's headquarters in Auckland where they were told it was unlikely any of those on board had survived.
An Air New Zealand pilot and three engineers were among five New Zealanders on board as observers during the flight ahead of the return of the Airbus to Air New Zealand.
The Air New Zealand pilot is Captain Brian Horrell, 52, and the three engineers are Murray White, 37, and Michael Gyles, 49 and Noel Marsh, 35.
The fifth New Zealander on the flight was Civil Aviation Authority official Jeremy Cook.
Air New Zealand chief executive Rob Fyfe was due to fly to France later Friday, along with family members of at least one of the airline's staff on the crashed plane.
He said he had been told by the leader of the French search and rescue team there was little optimism any survivors would be found.
Witness reports suggested the aircraft was relatively low in the sky just before the crash, as it prepared to land in Perpignan, he said.
"There's no indications that we're aware of, of any concerns on the flight or the operation of the flight before the accident occurred," he told reporters in Auckland.
New Zealand Prime Minister John Key said a New Zealand air accident investigator was travelling to France to observe the inquiry into the crash.
"I think I speak for all New Zealanders when I say this is a great tragedy. We'll work with Air New Zealand and the families to help in any way that is appropriate," Key told reporters.
The accident happened 29 years after the crash of an Air New Zealand DC10 into Mount Erebus in Antarctica on November 28, 1979. All 257 passengers and crew on the sightseeing flight were killed in the crash.
Email Story
IM Story
Printable View
Blog This
Recommend this article
Average (1 vote)
Sign in to recommend this article »
Most Recommended Stories »
Related Articles: Asia Pacific
Indian papers flail intelligence failures in Mumbai attacksAFP - 39 minutes ago
Thai airport protesters vow to 'fight to death'AFP - 40 minutes ago
Special forces launch assault on Mumbai hostage-takersAFP - 45 minutes ago
Indian commandos storm besieged Jewish centerAP - 53 minutes ago
Air New Zealand mourns staff believed dead in French air crashAFP - 54 minutes ago
Enlarge Photo
Air New Zealand mourns staff believed dead in French air crash
Most Popular – Asia Pacific
Viewed
US clears Bank of America deal for Merrill Lynch
US president's mother 'doing very well' in hospital: Laura Bush
Love handles increase death risk: study
Obama vows 'help is on the way' for the economy
Michael Jackson strikes 'amicable' deal with Arab sheikh
View Complete List »
Search:
Home
Singapore
Asia Pacific
World
Business
Entertainment
Sports
Technology
Top Stories
Most Popular