By Jerram Watts
It has been 30 years to the day since Air NZ Flight 901 crashed into Mount Erebus in Antarctica; a day that is forever etched into the Kiwi psyche.
237 passengers and 20 crew members were killed on that ill-fated sightseeing flight in 1979, marking the blackest day in New Zealand aviation history.
Thirty years on and it still haunts families’, thirty years on and the memories have not faded, thirty years on and it still hurts.
However, there is a slight reprieve for six affected families as today one member from each has flown to the crash site at Mt Erebus in memory of the lost.
At 12:50pm today a prayer will be said and a period of silence observed at Scott Base to mark the moment the plane crashed into Antarctica.
Earlier today, Air New Zealand chief executive Rob Fyfe, flight attendants and pilots attended a wreath-laying ceremony at the Erebus Crew Memorial Garden at Auckland Airport.
The family members were supposed to visit the crash site yesterday, but strong winds prevented the helicopter from landing.
They circled the crash site for about 20 minutes, but could not land.
They now look to visit the crash site on Monday before they leave.
Personal stories have been rife this past week, victim’s relatives speaking up about how the crash affected their lives, but it is easy to forget how much the nation suffered during those dark days.
Such a horrific accident taints New Zealand’s history, hurts its soul, and yet has brought the nation closer together in memory of the lost.
A memorial service was held on by Air New Zealand on October 23, many saying it was too little, too late.
Bob Hotson told 3 News his 21st birthday was just weeks before his father, Roy, took the doomed flight.
He only realised the plane had crashed when he watched the news.
“There was nothing other than what was on the news,” he said.
“No calls from anybody, no-one ringing up saying we’re from Air New Zealand.”
Mr Hotson said the airline only wanted to protect itself and escape blame.
“I believe that Air New Zealand’s credibility has been forever damaged by the clear attempt to escape blame.
“I think it is too late, it doesn’t have the meaning it could have had in the year or so after the incident.”
While some say time heals all wounds, others beg to differ.
Margaret Modricker’s mother, Jean Holloway, was 64 when she drove to the Auckland International Airport on November 28, 1979 and boarded flight 901 to Antarctica.
That was the last time Mrs Modricker saw her mother.
Mrs Holloway’s engagement ring was recovered from the crash site amid the wreckage of the plane and given to Mrs Modricker.
“I wear it everyday,” she said.
She, too, said the apology took far too long to come.
“It is a shame things were not sorted out and apologies were not given much earlier,” she said. “But I guess it is better late than never.”
Today also marks the one-year anniversary of the tragic Air New Zealand Airbus crash in Perpignan, France, in which five New Zealanders and two Germans lost their lives.
Many of the New Zealanders’ family members had already gathered in Perpignan where two days of commemoration would be held.
3 News
source: newshub archive
