Merged: Air New Zealand A320 crashes into the Mediterranean
Thread Starter
Air New Zealand Crash, Training? Pre Delivery?
CNN reporting the ditching of an Air New Zealand A320.
5 or 7 POB
Training flight perhaps?
5 or 7 POB
Training flight perhaps?
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Merged: Air New Zealand A320 crashes into the Mediterranean
With 7 people onboard...would it have been a pre-delivery test hop? Any chance there were AirNZ crew on this flight? I canīt find any info stating whether or not crew survived...fingers crossed.
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News.com.au
AN Airbus A320 aircraft with five people on board crashed into the sea off the southwest coast of France overnight while on a training flight, regional authorities said.
"An aircraft crashed at around 5pm (local time) off the coast near Perpignan. It was an A320," said a spokesman for the maritime prefecture, the regional authority that covers the area in southwestern France.
The A320 is one of Airbus's best-selling single-aisle airliners.
Officials from the DGAC, the French civil aviation authority were checking reports of the crash.
No further details were immediately available and there was no immediate comment from Airbus, a unit of European aerospace group EADS.
"An aircraft crashed at around 5pm (local time) off the coast near Perpignan. It was an A320," said a spokesman for the maritime prefecture, the regional authority that covers the area in southwestern France.
The A320 is one of Airbus's best-selling single-aisle airliners.
Officials from the DGAC, the French civil aviation authority were checking reports of the crash.
No further details were immediately available and there was no immediate comment from Airbus, a unit of European aerospace group EADS.
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From New Zealand Herald:
Air NZ plane crashes in France, one dead - reports
7:21AM Friday Nov 28, 2008
PARIS - An Airbus A320 passenger plane crashed off the coast of southern France during a training flight Thursday, killing at least one of seven people on board, French authorities said.
Radio New Zealand reported the plane was an Air New Zealand aircraft on a test flight after repairs in France, which had trouble landing.
The plane plunged into the Mediterranean sea 20 kilometres east of the French city of Perpignan, near the border with Spain, at around 4.30pm local time (3.30am NZT), according to a communications officer at the headquarters of the government representative in the region.
One body has been recovered at sea, the official said on condition of anonymity in keeping with department policy.
There were seven people on the flight which left from Perpignan airport, said First Officer Sandrine Parro of the Regional Operational Center for Monitoring and Rescue (CROSS) for the Mediterranean.
Five launches, two helicopters and a patrol plane have been dispatched to the area of the crash, Parro told The Associated Press.
"The fuselage has been located. The rescue operations will determine if there are any survivors," she added.
-AP
Air NZ plane crashes in France, one dead - reports
7:21AM Friday Nov 28, 2008
PARIS - An Airbus A320 passenger plane crashed off the coast of southern France during a training flight Thursday, killing at least one of seven people on board, French authorities said.
Radio New Zealand reported the plane was an Air New Zealand aircraft on a test flight after repairs in France, which had trouble landing.
The plane plunged into the Mediterranean sea 20 kilometres east of the French city of Perpignan, near the border with Spain, at around 4.30pm local time (3.30am NZT), according to a communications officer at the headquarters of the government representative in the region.
One body has been recovered at sea, the official said on condition of anonymity in keeping with department policy.
There were seven people on the flight which left from Perpignan airport, said First Officer Sandrine Parro of the Regional Operational Center for Monitoring and Rescue (CROSS) for the Mediterranean.
Five launches, two helicopters and a patrol plane have been dispatched to the area of the crash, Parro told The Associated Press.
"The fuselage has been located. The rescue operations will determine if there are any survivors," she added.
-AP
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BBC claim XL Germany flight crew. No report whether the engineers were ANZ..
BBC NEWS | Europe | Airbus jet crashes in test flight
Condolences
LJ
BBC NEWS | Europe | Airbus jet crashes in test flight
Condolences
LJ
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It appears to be that the aircraft maybe leased from Air NZ hence the confusion.....
CH-Aviation - Airline News, Fleet Lists & More
Looks like ex- ZK-OJL which had been leased to XL Airways...
CH-Aviation - Airline News, Fleet Lists & More
Looks like ex- ZK-OJL which had been leased to XL Airways...
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"Air New Zealand confirms that one of its Airbus A320 aircraft on lease to a European based company has crashed in the Mediterranean.
Chief Executive Officer Rob Fyfe says the aircraft, which was being operated by the leasee, was due to return to service with Air New Zealand next month.
Further information will be available in an update at 0815.
Ends
Issued by Air New Zealand Public Affairs, 09 336 2761"
Chief Executive Officer Rob Fyfe says the aircraft, which was being operated by the leasee, was due to return to service with Air New Zealand next month.
Further information will be available in an update at 0815.
Ends
Issued by Air New Zealand Public Affairs, 09 336 2761"
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Five New Zealanders feared dead after Air NZ plane crashes
8:42AM Friday Nov 28, 2008
An Air New Zealand A320. Photo / AP
There are grave concerns for five Air New Zealand staff on board the Airbus A320 which crashed off the coast of France early this morning.
Air New Zealand Chief Executive Officer Rob Fyfe told a media conference this morning the aircraft had been leased by German charter company XL for the last two years.
He said two XL pilots were on board with one Air New Zealand captain, three Air New Zealand engineers and one Air New Zealand CAA inspector.
One body had been recovered Mr Fyfe said.
"At this stage we don't know the status of personnel," he said.
"We have grave concerns for the situation".
A spokesperson for the Marine Department in Toulon told Le Monde newspaper: "There are no survivors."
Air New Zealand confirmed the aircraft was on lease to a European based company.
Mr Fyfe said the plane was being operated by the leasee and was due to return to service with Air New Zealand next month.
Radio New Zealand reported that the German company had just ended its lease and the plane's cabin was being reconfigured to back to Air NZ layout
The plane plunged into the Mediterranean sea 20 kilometres east of the French city of Perpignan, near the border with Spain, at around 4.30pm local time (4.30am NZT), according to a communications officer at the headquarters of the government representative in the region.
A member of the local government in Roussillon told France Info: "The plane, while coming into land at Canet-en-Roussillon had started to turn and went straight into the sea."
TV1 said the plane was coming into land when it crashed approximately 5km offshore. The station reported three bodies had been found.
First Officer Sandrine Parro of the Regional Operational Centre for Monitoring and Rescue (CROSS) for the Mediterranean said the plane had taken off from Perpignan airport with seven people on board.
Five launches, two helicopters and a patrol plane have been dispatched to the area of the crash, Parro told The Associated Press.
"The fuselage has been located. The rescue operations will determine if there are any survivors," she added.
Air New Zealand owns 10 Airbus A320s and leases two more. They are used on its Tasman and Pacific Island routes and seat around 150 passengers.
The list price of an A320 is around NZ$100 million.
The A320 has had a good safety record since it began flying in 1988. The aircraft is used in more than 70 countries.
One of the worst accidents involving an A320 occurred last year in Sao Paulo, Brazil, when a TAM plane overran the runway on landing, striking an office building. All 181 passengers and six crew on board plus a further 12 people on the ground were killed
Today's crash in France comes exactly 29 years after the Mt Erebus disaster, when an Air NZ flight TE901 flew into Antarctica's highest mountain killing 257 people on board.
My sincere condolences to the Family, friends and workmates ..... very shocking news so close to Christmas.
8:42AM Friday Nov 28, 2008
An Air New Zealand A320. Photo / AP
There are grave concerns for five Air New Zealand staff on board the Airbus A320 which crashed off the coast of France early this morning.
Air New Zealand Chief Executive Officer Rob Fyfe told a media conference this morning the aircraft had been leased by German charter company XL for the last two years.
He said two XL pilots were on board with one Air New Zealand captain, three Air New Zealand engineers and one Air New Zealand CAA inspector.
One body had been recovered Mr Fyfe said.
"At this stage we don't know the status of personnel," he said.
"We have grave concerns for the situation".
A spokesperson for the Marine Department in Toulon told Le Monde newspaper: "There are no survivors."
Air New Zealand confirmed the aircraft was on lease to a European based company.
Mr Fyfe said the plane was being operated by the leasee and was due to return to service with Air New Zealand next month.
Radio New Zealand reported that the German company had just ended its lease and the plane's cabin was being reconfigured to back to Air NZ layout
The plane plunged into the Mediterranean sea 20 kilometres east of the French city of Perpignan, near the border with Spain, at around 4.30pm local time (4.30am NZT), according to a communications officer at the headquarters of the government representative in the region.
A member of the local government in Roussillon told France Info: "The plane, while coming into land at Canet-en-Roussillon had started to turn and went straight into the sea."
TV1 said the plane was coming into land when it crashed approximately 5km offshore. The station reported three bodies had been found.
First Officer Sandrine Parro of the Regional Operational Centre for Monitoring and Rescue (CROSS) for the Mediterranean said the plane had taken off from Perpignan airport with seven people on board.
Five launches, two helicopters and a patrol plane have been dispatched to the area of the crash, Parro told The Associated Press.
"The fuselage has been located. The rescue operations will determine if there are any survivors," she added.
Air New Zealand owns 10 Airbus A320s and leases two more. They are used on its Tasman and Pacific Island routes and seat around 150 passengers.
The list price of an A320 is around NZ$100 million.
The A320 has had a good safety record since it began flying in 1988. The aircraft is used in more than 70 countries.
One of the worst accidents involving an A320 occurred last year in Sao Paulo, Brazil, when a TAM plane overran the runway on landing, striking an office building. All 181 passengers and six crew on board plus a further 12 people on the ground were killed
Today's crash in France comes exactly 29 years after the Mt Erebus disaster, when an Air NZ flight TE901 flew into Antarctica's highest mountain killing 257 people on board.
My sincere condolences to the Family, friends and workmates ..... very shocking news so close to Christmas.
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From Air NZ Press Conference 0830NZDT by Rob Fyfe CEO
Aircraft had been on lease to XL Airways Germany and had been undergoing maintenance prior to being returned to Air NZ. The Aircraft had been repainted in Air NZ Livery.
The flight was being piloted by two Pilots from XL Germany and there were five others on board, one Air NZCaptain from Auckland, three Engineers from Auckland/Christchurch and one person from NZ CAA.
The aircraft was due to be flown to Frankfurt and accepted there and ferried back to NZ to return to Air NZ service.
Next update from Air NZ is a press conference at 1030.
Aircraft had been on lease to XL Airways Germany and had been undergoing maintenance prior to being returned to Air NZ. The Aircraft had been repainted in Air NZ Livery.
The flight was being piloted by two Pilots from XL Germany and there were five others on board, one Air NZCaptain from Auckland, three Engineers from Auckland/Christchurch and one person from NZ CAA.
The aircraft was due to be flown to Frankfurt and accepted there and ferried back to NZ to return to Air NZ service.
Next update from Air NZ is a press conference at 1030.
Last edited by ghw78; 27th Nov 2008 at 21:11.
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A terrible event!!!!! How on earth can this sort of tragedy occur??? Just shows how dangerous "Test Flights" after maintenance can be!!!!!! And the uncanny date link with Erebus too....... we all await the findings, condolences to friends/family of the victims.
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AirNZ have released the names of 3 of the 5 New Zealanders...
Air NZ names staff missing after plane crash - 28 Nov 2008 - NZ Herald: New Zealand National news
Thoughts go out to family, friends and work colleagues
Air NZ names staff missing after plane crash - 28 Nov 2008 - NZ Herald: New Zealand National news
Thoughts go out to family, friends and work colleagues
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Terrible news for Air New Zealand, the Aviation community will be shocked by this accident, and thinking of their cousins across the pond today.
Evertonian
I think it's pretty well known that I'm not a fan of ANZ, but this news still came as a punch in the guts for me. 
Hang in there guys n girls. We're thinking of you over here.
Hang in there guys n girls. We're thinking of you over here.
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Indeed Buster.
NZ is a very tight knit family, the way many Australian airlines used to be.
All the love and caring my staff and I can muster goes out to the families, friends and colleagues of those lost.
Fly on good people, fly on.
EWL
NZ is a very tight knit family, the way many Australian airlines used to be.
All the love and caring my staff and I can muster goes out to the families, friends and colleagues of those lost.
Fly on good people, fly on.
EWL