A plane crash on the west coast of New Zealand has killed nine people, including tourists from Australia, England, Ireland and Germany, officials said. The fixed-wing Fletcher from Skydive New Zealand crashed shortly after takeoff from Fox Glacier Airport Saturday afternoon, killing all aboard, UPI quoted Radio New Zealand as saying. A victim identification crew was at the crash site and New Zealand's Civil Aviation Authority and Transport Accident Investigation Commission will investigate the accident, the report said. TVNZ One News said the pilot and four skydiving instructors were from the Fox Glacier area while the remaining victims were tourists on a skydiving outing. Witnesses near the crash site said the airplane climbed steeply, and they fled their home when it appeared it would hit their house. The aircraft burst into flames upon impact.
