Horror plane engine accident leaves worker dead

Safe Air, a subsidiary of Air New Zealand, says the 51-year-old man died during what it describes as routine maintenance work at Woodbourne airport.

Emergency services were called shortly after 8am on Monday. Acting District Commander Steve Caldwell says CPR was performed on the man, but attempts to revive him failed and he was pronounced dead at the scene.

Air New Zealand says it is working with police and the Department of Labour on the investigation.

Air New Zealand chief executive Rob Fyfe is travelling to Blenheim.

The Engineering, Printing and Manufacturing Union is sending its condolences to the engineer's family and colleagues.

Tasman acting district commander Steve Caldwell said emergency services carried out CPR on the man but could not revive him. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

"Police are investigating this death on behalf of coroner who will determine the cause of death in due course."

Mr Caldwell said the man would not be named until his next of kin had been informed of his death.

Chief executive Rob Fyfe and technical operations manager Vanessa Stoddart were travelling to Blenheim to support the engineer's family, friends and colleagues, a statement said.

It said the company was co-operating with investigations launched by police and the Department of Labour.

St John's Ambulance spokesman Ian Henderson said staff found a man dead when they arrived at the airport.

Woodbourne Airport manager Dean Heiford said the incident happened in a section of the airport used by Air New Zealand group.

He said the man died in the airport's engine testing bay.

Mr Heiford said engines in the bay were not attached to a plane when they were tested.

The Engineering, Printing and Manufacturing Union (EPMU) has confirmed the dead man was a union member and passed on its condolences to his family and colleagues.

Aviation spokesman Strachan Crang said the union was working with occupational health and safety, police and other investigators.

Union officials had offered support to members and management at Safe Air, he said.

Based in Blenheim, Safe Air is an aviation maintenance, repair, overhaul design and manufacturing business who do work for both the military and commercial airlines.

Weather traps couple in Tararuas

The couple, aged 30 and 20, started out from Otaki Forks on the Southern Crossing track across the Tararuas on Tuesday bound for Carterton in the Wairarapa.

Gale-force winds and snow stranded them at Kime Hut - the highest hut on the track.

Sergeant Noel Bigwood of the Western Tararua Search and Rescue says the couple were safe but had run out of food and gas.

Three land search and rescue team members were flown in to the area on Saturday and dropped off two hours from the hut - as close as the helicopter could get in the poor weather conditions.

Sergeant Noel Bigwood said the couple, aged 20 and 30, started the crossing from Otaki Forks to Carterton on Tuesday.

However, gale force winds and snow forced them to hole up in Kime Hut.

"Concern was raised (yesterday) due to fears involving the future weather, the couple running short of gas and food, plus a lack of equipment and skill to evacuate themselves in the conditions," Mr Bigwood said.

Police contacted the couple on their cellphone and a team of three Horowhenua Land SAR volunteers was flown into the area and dropped about two hours' walk from Kime hut this afternoon.