| New Zealand suffered a terrible tragedy when an Air New Zealand DC10 passenger jet struck Mt Erebus in Antartica while on a tourist flight over the frozen continent. All aboard were killed, and there were few NZ families who did not know at least one person on the flight. Later investigation revealed a programming error in the automatic flight plan, and the mountain remained absolutely invisible in the haze even when the ground proximity warning sounded in the cockpit. The relevant section of that tape was broadcast nationally in New Zealand. |