Fatal plane crash in Feilding

An investigation is underway into the cause of a fatal plane crash in Feilding today.

The Yak aircraft crashed into a sports field in Timona Park, Feilding, at approximately 10.45am.

At this stage Police have confirmed that the aircraft had taken off from Taonui Aerodrome just outside Feilding approximately 25 minutes before it crashed. It is believed that two men who are well known in the Manawatu were on board the plane; two friends on a private flight.

The area has been cordoned off and tents have been erected to help preserve the wreckage and allow for an investigation into the cause of the crash to take place.

A Disaster Victim Identification (DVI) team are on scene along with investigators from the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA).

Inspector Mark Harrison said: "The park borders a river and residential houses, and has a children's playground, so it is extremely popular with the local community. There were a large number of people in the park at the time and it is extremely fortunate that no-one on the ground was hurt.

"The Police will now liaise closely with the accident investigators to try to understand how the crash happened and we expect to have people working at the scene for at least the next day or two."

Some family members have been advised of the tragedy. However one of the men has some immediate family who still need to be notified before any names can be released publicly. Police are therefore not expected to be in a position to release names until tomorrow.

Media who believe they have the names are asked not to publish them until Police have confirmed that the men's immediate families have been notified.

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