A statement from Air New Zealand CEO Rob Fyfe

A statement from Air New Zealand CEO Rob Fyfe

It is with deep sadness to learn this evening that Hong Kong Police have located the body of Air New Zealand 777 First Officer Steve Morrissey.

Steve was located beyond the track in the Tai Mei Tuk area, on which he had been walking last Wednesday.

For the past seven days, several hundred police, fire service and volunteer search and rescue personnel, as well as Air New Zealanders, members of the public, friends and family have searched a large area of Pat Sin Leng County Park in the search for Steve.

We all remained hopeful throughout that Steve would be found alive.

Sadly that hope has not been realised, but it is with some sense of relief that Steve has at least been found and we can bring him home.

Steve's family has asked that we pass on the following statement:

We are extremely grateful to the police, fire service and search and rescue teams here in Hong Kong for all their hard work over the past week.

We are overwhelmed with the amazing support we have received from our friends and family in New Zealand.

They have asked for privacy and will not be making any further public comment at this time.

I would also like to take this opportunity on behalf of all Air New Zealanders to thank the Hong Kong Police, Hong Kong Fire Service and Civil Aid Service for their tireless efforts and unwavering dedication over the past week to find Steve. I express my gratitude also to the New Zealand Police, Interpol, New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the New Zealand Consulate in Hong Kong and the large numbers of individuals who have supported this search.

We will be liaising with Steve's family and Hong Kong Police over the next few days on bringing Steve home.

ENDS

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