Noel Marsh (inset) was one five New Zealanders mourned after the crash. Photos / Supplied
The legacy of a victim of the Air New Zealand Airbus tragedy off southern France will live on in a newborn child.
Tracey Marsh gave birth to the baby girl after her husband, Christchurch aircraft engineer Noel Marsh, 35, died in the plane crash in November.
Pilot Brian
Horrell, 52, and engineer Murray White, 37, both from Auckland, Christchurch engineer Michael Gyles, 49, and Civil Aviation Authority air worthiness inspector Jeremy Cook, 58, also died in the crash, with two German pilots.
Air New Zealand chief executive Rob Fyfe told staff about the birth of Mr Marsh's daughter in his weekly email bulletin.
Mrs Marsh and her family declined to speak to the Herald yesterday about the new arrival. Mr Marsh has also left behind two sons, Leon and Ryan.
Friend Warren Amos said the birth would provide a "bit of a sparkle" after the gloom.
He knew Mrs Marsh had been keenly awaiting the birth.
The bodies of the five New Zealanders have been returned to New Zealand, and French investigators are continuing to probe the cause of the crash, which happened while the Airbus A320 was on a test flight off Perpignan.
The plane's damaged flight data recorder and cockpit voice recorder have been analysed in the United States, and French authorities are expected to release a preliminary report on the crash around the end of this month.
At a recent memorial service, Mr Marsh was described as as a loving father and keen sportsman who was small in stature but had a big heart.
An employee of Air New Zealand for six years, he had been relishing the chance to travel to France to take part in the Airbus flight.
