Nine people, including four tourists, died when a plane crashed at a popular New Zealand tourist site Saturday, police said.
The victims included the fixed-wing plane's pilot and four tourists from Australia, Ireland, England and Germany, said Senior Sgt. Allyson Ealam of the Greymouth Police Department.
We believe it had something to do with skydiving, she said.
The crash occurred at 1:30 p.m. (9:30 p.m. ET) about 200 km (124 miles) southwest of Fox Glacier Airport on New Zealand's South Island, she said.
CNN affiliate Radio Live New Zealand reported that the plane burst into flames as it attempted to take off.
Fox Glacier, with a population of roughly 375 people, sits within the Westland Tai Poutini National Park, on the west coast of New Zealand's south island.
Authorities had secured the crash site and were investigating the crash Saturday afternoon, New Zealand Police spokesman Grant Ogilvie said.
The victims included the fixed-wing plane's pilot and four tourists from Australia, Ireland, England and Germany, said Senior Sgt. Allyson Ealam of the Greymouth Police Department.
We believe it had something to do with skydiving, she said.
The crash occurred at 1:30 p.m. (9:30 p.m. ET) about 200 km (124 miles) southwest of Fox Glacier Airport on New Zealand's South Island, she said.
CNN affiliate Radio Live New Zealand reported that the plane burst into flames as it attempted to take off.
Fox Glacier, with a population of roughly 375 people, sits within the Westland Tai Poutini National Park, on the west coast of New Zealand's south island.
Authorities had secured the crash site and were investigating the crash Saturday afternoon, New Zealand Police spokesman Grant Ogilvie said.
SOURCE: CNN.com
