TAIC opens inquiry into Antarctica flight safety incident

The Transport Accident Investigation Commission has today (11 October 2013) opened an inquiry into a safety incident which involved a Royal New Zealand Air Force Boeing 757 landing in Antarctica on Monday (7 October 2013) in weather below minimum standards for landing and with insufficient fuel to reach an alternate airport.

The RNZAF had advised the Commission of the incident on Monday, and information provided since had allowed the Commission to determine it should and could investigate under the Transport Accident Investigation Commission Act 1990, chief investigator of accidents Captain Tim Burfoot said. “The Commission’s inquiry will work alongside but independently of the Air Force’s own investigation of the incident.”

“While the Commission is precluded from investigating incidents and accidents confined to New Zealand Defence Force resources, this occurrence involved a combination of military and civilian personnel and services,” Captain Burfoot said.

He said it was too early to say how long the investigation would take or whether international participation in the inquiry would be required.

The Commission is a standing Commission of Inquiry that investigates occurrences with significant implications for transport safety in order to explain them and make recommendations, where appropriate, to help improve transport safety and prevent a recurrence.

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