Erebus relatives to return without visiting site

Family of the victims of the Erebus Air New Zealand DC10 crash 30 years ago in Antarctica return home later today without being able to visit the crash site.

The second attempt of the six relatives of passengers who died in New Zealand's worst-ever air disaster was called off this morning, due to bad weather.

The site was completely snowed over and high winds prevented the helicopters from getting to the site.

The family members had planned to lay a wreath and leave a koru-shaped capsule containing messages from relatives of those killed.

On Saturday, a memorial service was held at Scott Base to mark the 30th anniversary of the crash, which killed 257 people in 1979.

- NZPA