Holidays were priority for Auckland family killed in air crash

10.30pm

An Auckland couple killed in a plane crash in Australia with their young children were devoted parents who made family holidays a priority.

Kevin and Joanne Bowles, 47 and 45, daughter Sophie, nine, and Michael, six, had spent the day snorkelling and swimming with close friends before their plane crashed soon after takeoff from Queensland's Hamilton Island.

Two other people were killed in Thursday's crash, an Australian pilot and an American honeymooner whose wife was on an earlier plane, with friends of the Bowles family.

The newlyweds had separated so the two families could travel together.

Holidaying on the Great Barrier Reef, the Bowles family spent their final day cruising on a sun-soaked catamaran and snorkelling off the edge of a reef.

Nearing the end of their week-long holiday, the Bowles family had taken a Fantasea boat ride to Hardy Reef, 39 nautical miles from the Whitsunday Coast.

When the trip ended late in the afternoon they went to Great Barrier Reef Airport at Hamilton Island to catch a flight back to Club Med Lindeman where they were staying.

At about 5.30pm (7.30pm NZT), the Bowles family boarded a single-engine Piper Cherokee 6-300 with the American tourist.

With fine weather and little wind, the crossing to Lindeman should have taken about seven minutes. But soon after take-off, witnesses reported the plane appeared to suffer engine failure before crashing into a hillside and exploding. No one survived.

Mrs Bowles' cousin, Edith Stacey, said the accident was an awful shock. She was phoned to say the Piper Cherokee 6-300 was overdue.

"At that point the news was simply that the flight was overdue."

She said Mr and Mrs Bowles married in 1976 in Papua New Guinea, where they ran a holiday lodge.

"They waited 17 years to have children. They didn't feel the hours they worked were suited to family life."

In Auckland they had two businesses -- St Lukes Tyre and Mechanical and Mt Albert Shell Workshop.

Ms Stacey said they were a business-minded couple, but balanced work with relaxing at their Snells Beach holiday home.

"They were up there on most weekends when they weren't busy with children's sport or birthdays."

They had gone to the South Island earlier this year and spent time in Hawke's Bay last year on a home stay.

"Family holidays were a priority so we are thankful that they had until (Thursday) together at Club Med."

"They lived life which we are thankful for now. They didn't put anything off until the children were older. They enjoyed their family."

Both children attended Hillsborough Primary School, where principal Grant Manley said they were model students.

"They were both lovely children. Michael was a typical boy who was fully into life and sport. He played soccer, and like most boys of his age, would give any sport a go.

"Sophie was into ballet, dancing and things like that. Both kids were really good kids and we were delighted having had them at our school."

Mr Manley said both Mr and Mrs Bowles were very supportive of the school. Mrs Bowles was chairwoman of the Friends of Hillsborough Primary School Committee and had established the school's "walking bus", helping students get to and from school.

Mr Bowles is survived by his parents, and two sisters. Ms Bowles is survived by her parents, two sisters and brothers.

Air Transport Safety investigators arrived at the crash scene today to inspect the wreckage, while Civil Aviation experts would review the company, plane, maintenance and pilot history. The aircraft was owned by Island Air, based in Sydney.

The six bodies were removed today and will be transported to Brisbane for identification.

Civil Aviation Safety Authority spokesman Peter Gibson said it was too early to say what caused the crash, but engine failure and pilot error would be investigated.

He said the plane was about 400ft in the air when it crashed to the ground, its fully laden fuel tanks exploding on impact.

Mr Gibson said Island Air had been in business for about 10 years and there was nothing untoward in its history.

"It is not a company we have grounded before," he said.