From PM for Erebus tragedy
first of which blamed pilot error, while the second blamed Air NZ’s navigation system, Ardern said.
While the latter inquiry was marred by accusations of conspiracy and false information, no challenge was made to the finding that ‘‘convincingly clears’’ the pilot and first officer of the plane.
‘‘The pilots were not responsible for this tragedy, I stand here today to state that again,’’ Ardern said. ‘‘But those findings were not accepted by our government then. That was wrong, it caused trauma on top of grief, and persecution on top of pain.’’
Air NZ chairwoman Dame Therese Walsh echoed the prime minister’s apology.
‘‘I apologise on behalf of an airline who failed its duty of care, and I apologise for the way those families were treated. Better care should have been taken of you,’’ Walsh said.
The NZ Airline Pilots’ Association said the apology from the prime minister was a ‘‘game changer’’. Association president Captain Andrew Ridling said the Erebus disaster and the tumultuous events that followed had a lasting effect on aviation in New Zealand and on relationships with Air NZ.
‘‘The pilots on board the aircraft that day were subject to unfair conjecture and blame that affected their professional reputations,’’ Ridling said.
‘‘It is very important to us and the families to hear the prime minister say the pilots were not responsible for this tragedy.
‘‘We have waited a very long time to see that put right. Our thoughts are now with the families of the crew and every passenger who was on board the aircraft that day.’’
More than 480 family members of those who lost their lives in the Erebus disaster gathered for the 40th memorial event.
Earlier, about 80 people gathered at the Erebus Crew Memorial Garden at Auckland Airport to pay their respects to the 20 men and women who lost their lives while at work.
Transport Minister Phil Twyford said the disaster ‘‘was an event that changed our nation’’ and changed the way we think about aviation safety.
After wreaths were laid on a memorial plaque, tears were shed by descendants and former colleagues of the fallen crew during a minute’s silence at 1.49pm – the time of the crash.