Ballot opens for Erebus flight

Mt Erebus. File photo / Mark Mitchell

Families who lost loved ones in New Zealand's worst air crash nearly 31 years ago have been asked to register for a ballot for 80 seats on an air force commemorative flight to Antarctica this summer.

An Air New Zealand DC10 slammed into the slopes of frozen Mt Erebus on November 28, 1979, killing all 257 passengers and crew on board.

Air New Zealand said it was now asking families whose relatives died to register for a ballot to fill the 80 seats on the air force's Boeing 757 and spend a few hours "experiencing the unique environment that drew those on flight TE901 to it almost 31 years ago".

The ballot would be open to immediate families of passengers, cabin crew and flight crew, and would be drawn by a senior member of the police, overseen by an independent auditor.

Names had to be submitted by September 15 and the successful applications would be known within two weeks of that date.

The airline said it had been working since late last year with the Government, the air force and Antarctica New Zealand on plans for the flight.

Last year on the 30th anniversary of the crash, six family representatives flew to Antarctica.

The airline said ballot winners would probably be on the ground for several hours at Scott Base where they would take part in a memorial service at the base flagpole.

A capsule similar to one laid on Mt Erebus during the 30th commemorations would also be laid at Scott Base, but its final contents of the capsule had yet to be decided.

Air New Zealand said it would meet the cost of the flight and relatives would not pay anything.

The date had yet to be confirmed. The air force today could not say if the Boeing would fly over Mt Erebus.

"It could well do. If it is a good day they might well do that," said air force spokesman, Squadron Leader Kavae Tamariki.

Last summer the air force twice flew a Boeing 757 to the Antarctic, landing at Pegasus Airfield at McMurdo Station, where it refuelled for the return trip to Christchurch.

The air force said it was looking at the suitability of the Boeing 757 to carry passengers to McMurdo.

Its C-130 Hercules fleet makes about 12 flights to McMurdo each year during the Antarctic summer, between October and April.

- NZPA