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The fixed-wing aircraft crashed after takeoff at Fox Glacier, killing all nine onboard. - Source: ONE News -
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The New Zealand skydiving industry says nobody should lose confidence in the industry after Saturday's plane crash at Fox Glacier that killed nine people.
Five men, who all worked for Skydive New Zealand, were killed along with four overseas tourists when their plane crashed at the end of the runway at Fox Glacier Airport at 1.15pm. It was the worst aviation disaster in New Zealand in 17 years.
Keith Gallaher of the Parachute Industry Association told TVNZ's Breakfast programme the industry has a very good safety record in New Zealand, both in skydiving and in light aircraft.
"I don't think anyone should lose confidence in the in the skydiving industry in New Zealand," he said.
A team of six crash investigators will today begin the task of trying to find out the cause of the crash which Transport accident investigators are confident they will find "most, if not all", of the reasons for crash, despite fire causing massive damage to the aircraft.
A team of six investigators from the Transport Accident Investigation Commission (TAIC), with the regional coroner Richard McElrea, was trying travelling to the crash scene today to begin inquiries which could take up to a year.
Gallaher said he's confident the investigation will be very thorough, as it needs to be.
He said the industry will help the investigators where it can and will also go through the incident itself to see if it can learn anything from it.
Police named the victims as Skydive NZ director Rodney Miller, 55, from Greymouth, pilot Chaminda Senadhira, 33, from Queenstown, and dive masters Adam Bennett, 47, from Australia but living in Moteuka, Michael Suter, 32, from New Plymouth, Christopher McDonald, 62, from Mapua, and Rodney Miller, 55 from Greymouth.
The four tourists who died were Patrick Byrne, 26, from County Wexford, Ireland; Glen Bourke, 18, from Coburg, Victoria, Australia; Annita Kirsten, 23, from Germany; and Brad Coker, 24, from Farnborough, England.
Miller's wife Robyn Jacobs said her family had suffered a huge loss and that her heart went out to the families of those killed.
Westland District Mayor Maureen Pugh said that the tight-knit community had been rocked by the disaster.
Everyone was doing their best to support the families of the victims.
Wakatipu Aero Club president Peter Daniels said pilot Chaminda Senadhira was one of the most experienced skydive pilots in the business.
"It's distressing because of the number of deaths, but it would not have been caused by any inexperience on the part of Chami."
He is survived by wife Nina, and a daughter, 5, from a previous relationship.
Teenager Glenn Bourke's mother said her son had saved up all year for the adventure holiday to New Zealand.
Bourke's friend Freya Low had just completed her tandem skydive and was about to film his jump then the horrific accident unfolded, she told Melbourne's Herald-Sun newspaper.
The pair had already been bungy jumping, whitewater rafting and swimming with whales on the five-week holiday before they attempted skydiving.
Mrs Bourke said despite all her children having travelled overseas, she never believed any harm would come to them.
"He was just a fantastic boy who had his whole life ahead of him."
Skydive NZ has operated out of Fox Glacier for 12 years and is a member of NZ Parachute Industry Association.
The bodies of the victims will be taken to Auckland mortuary, not Christchurch because of the state of emergency in force following yesterday's massive earthquake.
New regulations set to be introduced by next October will ensure
more stringent safety and maintenance checks are carried out by
commercial adventure aviation operators.
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