Remembering Erebus

A DigitalNZ Story by Donna Robertson

On 28 November 1979, Air New Zealand Flight TE901 crashed into the slopes of Mt Erebus in Antarctica while on a sight-seeing flight to the continent. All the 237 passengers and 20 crew on board were killed and the crash remains the worst civilian disaster in New Zealand’s history. http://christchurchcitylibraries.com/Society/Disasters/Erebus-1979/index.asp

Erebus, Antarctica, Antarctic

Image: Former High Court judge, and Head of the Commission of Enquiry into the Erebus disaster, Peter Mahon, with his book Verdict on Erebus - Photograph taken by Ray Pigney

Former High Court judge, and Head of the Commission of Enquiry into the Erebus disaster, Peter Mahon, with his book Verdict on Erebus - Photograph ...

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Koru capsule on Mt Erebus

Koru capsule on Mt Erebus

Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage

Image: Erebus memorials

Erebus memorials

Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage

Image: Erebus disaster map

Erebus disaster map

Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage

Image: Erebus flight overdue

Erebus flight overdue

Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage

Image: Erebus crash site

Erebus crash site

Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage

Image: Erebus memorial at Kihikihi

Erebus memorial at Kihikihi

Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage

Image: Initial Erebus memorial services

Initial Erebus memorial services

Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage

Image: Ongoing debate over Erebus

Ongoing debate over Erebus

Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage

Image: Wreckage from Erebus disaster

Wreckage from Erebus disaster

Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage

Image: Erebus crash site map

Erebus crash site map

Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage

Image: Court action following Erebus disaster inquiry

Court action following Erebus disaster inquiry

Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage

Image: Recognition for role during Erebus operation

Recognition for role during Erebus operation

Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage

Image: Making the Erebus memorial cross

Making the Erebus memorial cross

Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage

Image: Erebus memorial service on Antarctica in 2004

Erebus memorial service on Antarctica in 2004

Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage

Image: Expressions of sympathy after Erebus disaster

Expressions of sympathy after Erebus disaster

Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage

Image: Recovering the flight recorders from Erebus

Recovering the flight recorders from Erebus

Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage

Image: The Erebus inquiry by Peter Mahon

The Erebus inquiry by Peter Mahon

Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage

Image: Erebus disaster memorial at Waikumete Cemetery

Erebus disaster memorial at Waikumete Cemetery

Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage

Image: Recovery party accommodation, Mt Erebus

Recovery party accommodation, Mt Erebus

Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage

Image: Erebus disaster memorial window at St Stephen's

Erebus disaster memorial window at St Stephen's

Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage

Image: Erebus disaster recovery work during blizzard

Erebus disaster recovery work during blizzard

Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage

Image: Plane wreckage on Mt Erebus

Plane wreckage on Mt Erebus

Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage

Image: Crash site on Mt Erebus

Crash site on Mt Erebus

Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage

Image: Erebus disaster memorial at Auckland Airport

Erebus disaster memorial at Auckland Airport

Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage

Image: Erebus disaster memorial windows at St Matthew's

Erebus disaster memorial windows at St Matthew's

Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage

Image: Personal effects of Erebus victims

Personal effects of Erebus victims

Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage

Image: Wreckage of Flight TE901 sighted on Erebus

Wreckage of Flight TE901 sighted on Erebus

Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage

Image: Tail of Air New Zealand plane at Mt Erebus

Tail of Air New Zealand plane at Mt Erebus

Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage

Image: Air New Zealand plane fuselage on Mt Erebus

Air New Zealand plane fuselage on Mt Erebus

Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage

Image: Psychological toll of Operation Overdue

Psychological toll of Operation Overdue

Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage

Image: Flight TE901 to Antarctica

Flight TE901 to Antarctica

Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage

Image: Air NZ Momentum sculpture

Air NZ Momentum sculpture

Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage