NZ slapdash with air safety, claims father
PM confident in adventure tourism safety changes
THE family of a British man who died in a New Zealand plane crash five years ago have criticised the country’s ‘‘slapdash’’ attitude to the safety of tourists following the deaths of four more UK nationals on Saturday.
Bradley Coker, 24, from Farnborough, Hampshire, was killed in 2010 when the light aircraft in which he was flying to take part in a skydive crashed at the Fox Glacier Aerodrome.
Last month, New Zealand’s Transport Accident Investigation Commission admitted that key parts of the plane’s wreckage had been buried three days after the crash, ultimately limiting the commission’s ability to determine the true cause of the accident.
Coker’s father, Chris, spoke after four Britons were among the seven killed in a helicopter crash on the Fox Glacier on Saturday.
Andrew Virco, 49, and his partner Katharine Walker, 50, of Cambridge, were killed with Nigel and Cynthia Charlton, 66 and 70, of Romsey, Hampshire, when the single-engine Squirrel helicopter in which they were travelling as part of a scenic flight with Alpine Adventures, crashed in bad weather over the 12.8-kilometrelong glacier in Westland National Park.
Sovannmony Leang, 27, and Josephine Gibson, 29, both from New South Wales, and pilot Mitchell Paul Gameren, 29, of Queenstown, who had almost 3000 hours of flying experience, were also killed.
‘‘If the helicopter of Saturday’s crash has been completely destroyed it is unlikely we will ever find out the true cause of the crash as the TAIC cannot be trusted to investigate accidents properly,’’ Chris Coker, 63, said.
Under the Accident
Compensation Corporation, it is not possible for nationals and tourists to sue for negligence, which Coker believes is the major reason why such tragic accidents continue to happen here.
‘‘There is no right for the families of the victims to sue for negligence so no one is held accountable,’’ he said. ‘‘Since Bradley’s crash not a lot has changed in New Zealand, which means his death was for nothing. The government has not taken any notice. Until this affects New Zealand financially they will not do anything.’’
Those who saw last Saturday’s helicopter crash site said debris was spread over several hundred metres, with the main part of the helicopter wedged between huge blocks of ice.
A recovery operation is under way. However, due to the poor conditions, it could take up to three days to complete.
Prime Minister John Key said he did not think the accident would affect the adventure tourism industry. ‘‘Most people are aware there is a degree of risk when you get in a helicopter,’’ he said. ‘‘But, having said that, there needs to be a full investigation.’’
Grey District Mayor Tony Kokshoorn said the conditions were terrible on the day of the crash.
Nigel Charlton’s youngest brother Paul, said his brother, who was a dentist, and his wife had ‘‘wanted to explore the world as much as they could’’ in retirement.
Steve Marshall, the brother of Katharine Walker, who was head of radiotherapy at Addenbroke’s Hospital, said she was on a ‘‘trip of a lifetime’’.
‘‘Kath was such a sociable person. Her house was stacked with friends for her birthday party a few months ago.’’
Bradley Coker