Air New Zealand CEO Rob Fyfe has apologised to the families of the victims of the crash of one of the airline’s DC-10s at Mount Erebus in Antarctica in 1979, saying that the airline has not offered enough support for them.
“I can’t turn the clock back, but as I look forward, I would like to start this next step in our journey – by saying sorry,” he said on October 23 in a speech at the unveiling of a sculpture at the airline’s headquarters. “Sorry to all those who suffered the loss of a loved one or were affected by the Erebus tragedy and who did not receive the support and compassion they should have from Air New Zealand.”
Fyfe also reflected on the accident involving one of its A320s off the coast of Perpignon, France, last year in which four Air NZ staff members died. “We could also do everything in our power to learn from the accident and ensure that all those who fly in future, can fly more safely as a result of the improvements that are made once we discover the mysteries of what caused this accident.”
Air New Zealand flight TE901 crashed into Mount Erebus while on a sightseeing flight over Antarctica on November 28 1979.
