Sad end to polar aircraft search

THE PLANE which crashed in the Antarctic last week has been spotted on a steep slope.

A rescue team is expected to reach the site of the wreckage today after search teams spotted the plane’s tail on an icy, steep slope near the summit of Mt Elizabeth last night.

A Rescue Co-ordination Centre NZ (RCCNZ) spokeswoman said the three Canadians aboard the Twin Otter aircraft are likely to have died in the crash.

It was not yet known caused the crash, she said.

Family of the Canadian men, including pilot Bob Heath, a 20-year veteran of Arctic and Antarctic flying, have been informed.

Calgary-based Kenn Borek Air, which owns the missing plane, confirmed that crew on a Hercules search aircraft spotted the wreckage about 7.15pm yesterday.

The aircraft appeared to have crashed into a steep, icy cliff and there were no signs of activity near the wreckage, the statement said.

‘‘It appears that the impact was not survivable.’’

Rescue teams were unable to land due to bad weather and the difficult terrain, but helicopter crews planned to return today.

RCCNZ co-ordinated the search of the area where a beacon was activated after the plane with three crew went missing on Wednesday. Computer tracking of the plane’s flight showed it coming to a sudden stop at just under 4000m.

Mission co- ordinator Tracy Brickles said it was a very sad end to the operation.

‘‘It has been a difficult operation in challenging conditions but we remained hopeful of a positive result.

‘‘Our thoughts are now with the families of the crewmen.’’

A search base had been set up at the Beardmore Glacier, 50km from where the locator transmitter was activated.

The crash site was within New Zealand’s search and rescue region, halfway between the South Pole and McMurdo Station.

The RCCNZ spokeswoman said it was not decided who would coordinate the recovery operation.

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