Brian Horrell, the pilot killed in the crash of an Air New Zealand plane off the coast of France a fortnight ago, will be farewelled in a memorial service in Auckland tomorrow.
Mr Horrell, 52, was one of five New Zealanders and two Germans who died when the
Airbus A320 plunged into the Mediterranean on November 28, 29 years to the day after New Zealand's worst air disaster when an Air New Zealand slammed into Mt Erebus in Antarctic, killing all 257 passengers and crew.
The plane was flown by the two German pilots from XL Airways, the German company which had leased the aircraft from Air New Zealand but who were part of the assessment team preparing it to be handed back.
It was due to touch down at Perpignan Airport before flying to Frankfurt where a New Zealand crew was to take over and fly it back to New Zealand.
Both the black box data recorder and the cockpit voice recorder were recovered but were badly damaged and have been sent to the manufacturers in America. The cause of the crash has not yet been found.
Remains of some those killed have been recovered but were so badly damaged French authorities said they would be identified only by DNA.
Tomorrow Captain Horrell's life will be celebrated at a service in the east Auckland suburb of Botany Downs.
A second service of remembrance will also be held a week later at the Waiau Town and Country Club in Tuatapere in Southland, the home of his parents.
- NZPA
