What Happened in the Erebus Disaster?
Casualties ran high on the 28th of November, as 257 died when Flight 901 collided with the side of Mt Erebus at 12:50 pm. This date marked the day of one of New Zealand's worst disasters.
These snow covered hills were the last sights seen by all 257 passengers and crew present on Flight 901, as no one survived the aircrafts collision with Mt Erebus on the 28th of November 1979.
Flight 901 was the 14th sightseeing flight to Antarctica, advertised as a once in a lifetime experience to see the Antarctic landmarks. Due to a range of causes such as whiteout conditions, change in co-ordinates without notifying the crew and the planes descent to 1500ft the aircraft. Mere minutes before the plane crashed into Mt Erebus, a ground proximity warning alerted pilots that they were approaching the mountain. This resulted in much panic and arguments between the pilots as they hurriedly attempted to steer the aircraft back on course, however it was too late and all passengers and crew died instantly as the 200 tonne plane collided with the mountain. |
Meanwhile many people waited anxiously at the Auckland Airport, many
of these being family members of passengers and concerned airport workers, awaiting news of their safe return. This news however never came, as radio communication ended with the aircraft at 12.30; 20 minutes before the plane crashed. Rescue efforts began around 2.00pm after many hours of no radio communication with the pilots as the United States Navy began to launch Search and Rescue efforts in McMurdo Sound. At around 3.30 that same day, 6 more helicopters from the McMurdo station joined in the rescue search, which were later joined by a Royal New Zealand Air Force P3-B Orion, which searched the waters between New Zealand and Antarctica. Once the wreckage was sighted at Erebus, Operation Overdue was launched. Investigation and recovery parties came onto the scene in the form of volunteers and professionals, who investigated the cause of the crash and tried to recover equipment and people.
On the 10th of December recovery and Investigation in Antarctica was complete, however Operation Overdue continued in New Zealand as professionals took on the daunting task of identifying victims bodies. Controversy on the cause of the crash and who was to blame raged in courts in the weeks, months and years subsequent to the crash, in the form of reports such as the Chippendale and Mahon reports.
of these being family members of passengers and concerned airport workers, awaiting news of their safe return. This news however never came, as radio communication ended with the aircraft at 12.30; 20 minutes before the plane crashed. Rescue efforts began around 2.00pm after many hours of no radio communication with the pilots as the United States Navy began to launch Search and Rescue efforts in McMurdo Sound. At around 3.30 that same day, 6 more helicopters from the McMurdo station joined in the rescue search, which were later joined by a Royal New Zealand Air Force P3-B Orion, which searched the waters between New Zealand and Antarctica. Once the wreckage was sighted at Erebus, Operation Overdue was launched. Investigation and recovery parties came onto the scene in the form of volunteers and professionals, who investigated the cause of the crash and tried to recover equipment and people.
On the 10th of December recovery and Investigation in Antarctica was complete, however Operation Overdue continued in New Zealand as professionals took on the daunting task of identifying victims bodies. Controversy on the cause of the crash and who was to blame raged in courts in the weeks, months and years subsequent to the crash, in the form of reports such as the Chippendale and Mahon reports.