Message to all EPMU members at Air NZ

It has been a tragic day for Air New Zealand with the loss of five personnel - a pilot, a Civil Aviation member and three engineers - from the A320 going down in France. We know that all Air NZ staff will feel the loss and our thoughts are with the families of those who have been tragically taken.

Many EPMU members, particularly in engineering and Zeal, will have worked with these staff and to you we offer our condolences and know you will be in the thoughts of all colleagues.

This morning the EPMU sent messages of condolence and support to Rob Fyfe, to the two unions representing the crew who have been lost, the Aviation and Marine Engineers Association and the Airline Pilots Association, and to the Civil Aviation Authority. Our messages were:

Air NZ:

"Please accept the sincerest condolences of the EPMU Executive and members for the tragic loss of the flight and engineering crew in France today. We know the whole Air NZ family will feel the loss and our thoughts and sympathies are with the families of those who have been taken and with all Air NZ staff."

AMEA:

"On behalf of the Executive and members of the EPMU I express our deepest condolences on the loss of AMEA engineering members in the air tragedy in France today. Our thoughts are with the families of those who have been taken and with their comrades in the AMEA."

Airline Pilots Association:

"On behalf of the Executive and members of the EPMU I express our deepest condolences on the loss of a pilot in the air tragedy in France today.

"Our thoughts are with his family and comrades in ALPA."

Civil Aviation:

"Please accept our condolences on the loss of one of your staff in the air tragedy in France today. Our members in the aviation sector feel the loss of the very special people who work in the industry and our thoughts are with your staff member's family and his Civil Aviation colleagues at this difficult time."

Andrew Little
National Secretary

Strachan Crang
National Industry Organiser - Aviation