Source: Radio New Zealand
The koru on the tail of Air New Zealand Flight TE901 at the site of the Mount Erebus crash. Colin Monteith / Antarctica New Zealand Pictorial Collection
The daughter of one of the victims of the Erebus disaster is disgusted that a memorial will be built in Christchurch.
It has been 46 years since the Air New Zealand scenic flight crashed into Mt Erebus in Antarctica, killing 237 passengers and 20 crew.
After decades of back and forth, the government has announced a memorial would be erected at Cracroft Reserve in Christchurch.
Simone Bennett, whose father David was one of the crash victims, lives in Auckland and is furious that the memorial will be so far away.
The government has announced a memorial will be erected at Cracroft Reserve in Christchurch. RNZ / Samantha Gee
However, the Air Line Pilots’ Association (NZALPA) is thrilled the memorial is finally being built, and in Christchurch.
The preferred site for the memorial is Cracroft Reserve, but the Avon riverbank is being held as an alternative option.
Andrew McKeen, a 787 pilot and president of the association, said the long-awaited memorial would finally honour victims of New Zealand’s worst aviation disaster.
“Christchurch serves as New Zealand’s gateway to Antarctica and was the intended stopover point for TE901’s return to Auckland,” he said in a statement.
“Since the tragedy many of our members have retired or passed on. Others still remember the turbulent months that followed that day in 1979 and the efforts NZALPA made to defend the professional reputations of their colleagues from unfair conjecture and blame.”
McKeen reiterated that Captain Jim Collins and First Officer Greg Cassin had been cleared by a Royal Commission of any suggestion that negligence contributed to the disaster.
“We will now have a permanent national memorial. Erebus will forever be remembered by our industry and especially our members.”
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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand
