The flower-topped coffin of Pilot Ann Barbarich, flanked by air crew, arrives at Auckland Airport. Photo / Doug Sherring
The Air New Zealand pilot who died at the controls of a plane only moments after it landed in Perth was given a guard of honour when she was brought home early yesterday.
Ann Barbarich, a pilot for 27 years, and one of the first women to fly for the
national airline, had just guided a Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner onto the tarmac with 233 passengers from Auckland on board last Sunday afternoon when she suffered a suspected brain aneurism.
Many of her colleagues turned out in full uniform when her body arrived at Auckland Airport in a white casket, with flowers atop.
"Captain Barbarich's family accompanied her on the flight across the Tasman, as did the three other pilots who were on the flight deck with her when she became ill," Air New Zealand spokeswoman Imogen Dennis said.
Her funeral will be at the Holy Trinity Cathedral in Parnell on Friday.
