NZ pilot dies, co-pilot hurt in crash

By JULIET ROWAN

A New Zealand pilot is dead and his co-pilot is in hospital after a plane crash in Sudan.

The dead pilot was David Carlyle. The co-pilot is Chris Simpson.

Six people died in Friday's crash and four survived.

The plane was flying between the towns of Jiech and Ayod and had been chartered by the Sudanese Women in Development and Peace agency.

Aircraft owner Dan Callery said the plane crashed soon after take-off when cargo moved, causing it to stall. "They were at low altitude. There was not enough time to recover."

Speaking from Nairobi, Mr Callery said the men were operating the plane on behalf of his company, Air Cush, which provided aircraft for a number of aid and non-governmental organisations.

Mr Carlyle was believed to have been working in Africa for about a year.

Mr Simpson has been transferred to a hospital in Kenya.

"He should be okay," Mr Callery said. "He's still undergoing tests."