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: 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

Help us improve DigitalNZ

Do our short survey and let us know how we're doing.