NZ A320 crash

[Anthony T]

According to CNN, An Air New Zealand A320 has crashed in to the Mediterranean on a pre-delivery training flight, No other details as yet.

PARIS, France (CNN) -- A plane with seven people aboard crashed into the Mediterranean Sea on Thursday, a French regional government official told CNN.

The Airbus A320 Air New Zealand jet was on a training flight when the crash occurred about 5 p.m. (4p.m. GMT), said the official at the Maritime Prefecture in Toulon, France.

There were no immediate reports of survivors, but rescue efforts involving French navy vessels and a helicopter had been launched.

Floating debris had been located, the official said.

The test flight took off from Perpignan in southern France, the official said.

A civilian vessel saw the crash take place off the coast near Perpignan

[Rhys Xanthis]

Sources familiar with the situation state that the aircraft is owned by ANZ's Freedom Air subsidiary, and registered D-AXLA, with serial number 2500.

http://www.flightglobal.com/articles...ng-flight.html

I hope we have some survivors, although i'm very doubtful.

[Mike W]

You'll find that all of NZ's 320s are owned by Freedom Air, or what is now known as Zeal 320, also the holder of the Air Operators Certificate. The company was set up in the latter stages of Freedom ops and many may have noticed that at this time, any International Flights using A320 equipment changed their flights numbers to begin with a "7" instead of a "1". e.g. AKL SYD NZ101 became NZ701 but reverts back to NZ101 if B767 or B777 equipment are used.

Bit of trivia for the Buffs.

This particular craft is ZK-OJL and has been on lease to Star XL/XL Airways in Germany, hence the German rego and was due to be returned to Zeal 320. Interesting that Airfleets.net already have the Aircraft listed as wriitten off. They don't muck around.

http://www.airfleets.net/ficheapp/plane-a320-2500.htm

Sad about the demise of the frame but especially for any lives that are lost.

[Jason Carruthers]

I hope all the best for the rescue efforts. I couldn't believe it when I saw "NZ A320 Crash" first thing in the morning.

[Mike W]

Originally Posted by Jason Carruthers

Well this is definetly not the best year for airbus, loosing two aircraft in pre delivery testing. I suppose NZ will get a replacement aircraft from airbus. I hope all the best for the rescue efforts.

This Aircraft is not new Jason and is in fact already owned by NZ (Zeal). I'm picking, seeing as it was being leased out, that they won't replace it and take the Insurance. The whole 320 experience for NZ, I understand, hasn't been what they thought it would be. Hence the recent aquisition of a few more used 733's for domestic ops.

[David Ramsay]

Media release from NZ

28 November 2008

An Airbus A320 operated by XL Airways of Germany has been lost in the Mediterranean.

That aircraft is one that is owned by Air New Zealand and on lease to XL Airways for the past two years.

The aircraft was being flown by XL Airways to Frankfurt where it was due to be handed back to Air New Zealand for a ferry flight back to New Zealand.

Sadly, we have been notified that four Air New Zealand employees may have been on board the aircraft as passengers on this ferry flight to Frankfurt.

Naturally, this is an extremely difficult time for us all and I can assure that the full resources of the airline are being put into investigating what may have happened and providing support to our people and their families.

Rob Fyfe

Coincidentally it is 29 years ago today that NZ lost a DC-10 on Mt Erebus.

[Mike W]

More from the NZ herald;

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/ar...ectid=10545449

Five New Zealanders feared dead after Air NZ plane crashes

The A320 had four Air NZ staff and one CAA inspector on board, Chief Executive Officer Rob Fyfe said today. Photos / Reuters file, Greg Bowker

Updated 9:24AM Friday Nov 28, 2008

There are grave concerns for five New Zealanders on board the Air New Zealand Airbus A320 which crashed off the coast of France early this morning.

Air New Zealand Chief Executive Officer Rob Fyfe said one Air New Zealand captain, three Air New Zealand engineers and a CAA inspector were on board, as well as two pilots from German charter company XL.

The Air New Zealand captain was from Auckland and the engineers from Auckland and Christchurch, Mr Fyfe said.

He said one body had been recovered, however French media reported three bodies had been found.

Today's crash comes exactly 29 years after the Mt Erebus disaster, when Air NZ flight TE901 flew into Antarctica's highest mountain killing 257.

"At this stage we don't know the status of personnel. We have grave concerns for the situation," Mr Fyfe said.

"Naturally, this is an extremely difficult time for us all and the full resources of the airline are being put into investigation."

Mr Fyfe said the aircraft wreckage was in water. "A search and rescue operation is currently under way and one body has been retrieved. At this stage the status of the six other people on board is not known."

Continues...

[Mike W]

Originally Posted by David Ramsay

Media release form NZ



Coincidentally it is 29 years ago today that NZ lost a DC-10 on Mt Erebus.

That aircraft was being operated by NZ, unlike this bird it seems

[Nigel C]

It has been confirmed that the cause of the crash was a loss of altitude.

A sad day for aviation for this part of the world.

[David Ramsay]

Press conference with NZ CEO, Rob Fyfe.