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Source: Reuters -
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French authorities investigating the A320 crash into the Mediterranean last November have invited Air New Zealand and the Transport Accident Investigation Commission back to France for further help.
Air New Zealand fleet and operational specialists would return to France this weekend to provide further technical expertise to the investigation, chief executive Rob Fyfe said today.
Five New Zealanders died in the crash off the coast of the southern French city of Perpignan. The body of one of the men, Murray White, is still missing.
Investigators have recovered some details from the flight data recorder and the cockpit voice recorder, but the cause of the crash has yet to be determined.
"The request from the BEA (Bureau d'Enquetes et d'Analyses) is no surprise as they begin to learn more detail about what occurred and require our expert input into key aspects of the flight," Fyfe said.
"We have been kept well informed on progress being made with the investigation. With the BEA indicating they plan to have a preliminary report available by the end of the month, we expect further information to shortly become available."
The three-year-old Airbus A320 was on final acceptance flights and was due to be handed back to Air New Zealand after a two-year charter to the German company XL Airways. It had just been repainted in Air New Zealand livery.
It plunged into the sea apparently after a power surge caused it to climb steeply and then dive in a move the pilots could not control.
Meanwhile legal experts are questioning the acting chief coroner's decision to inquire into the deaths of four of the five New Zealanders killed in the crash.
Waikato coroner Gordon Matenga has ordered an inquest into the deaths of Jeremy Cook, Brian Horrell, Michael Gyles and Noel Marsh after their remains were returned to Auckland on Tuesday.
Matenga said that although the crash happened in France, the cause and circumstances were of public interest and concern here.
But Law Commission president Sir Geoffrey Palmer and Auckland University law Professor Bill Hodge today questioned how a New Zealand court could summons French witnesses, and whether the inquest would be useful.
Palmer said he knew of no way to compel French people and officials to give evidence to a New Zealand coronial inquiry.
The families would be entitled to ACC payments but could consider suing in France, Hodge said.
The bodies of the two Germans flying the plane, along with four of the five New Zealanders' bodies have been recovered.
Matenga said he had spoken with Air New Zealand, forensic pathologists, police and Ben Tothill, the lawyer for the families about the inquest.
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