15 Mar 2017

Fox Glacier body belonged to helicopter crash victim

5:42 pm on 15 March 2017

Police have identified remains found in a Fox Glacier crevasse two weeks ago as those of 2015 helicopter crash victim Cynthia Charlton.

The wreckage of the helicopter on Fox Glacier.

The wreckage of the helicopter on Fox Glacier: Seven people were killed in the crash. Photo: NZ Police

A tramper found the body on 2 March. There was speculation it could have been there for decades.

Nigel and Cynthia Charlton were among the seven helicopter crash victims.

Nigel and Cynthia Charlton were among the seven helicopter crash victims. Photo: Facebook

Police said today they had formally identified the remains as belonging to Mrs Charlton, who was 70.

The British national was one of seven people killed when an Alpine Adventures squirrel helicopter crashed on 21 November 2015.

The Transport Accident Investigation Commission (TAIC) is still investigating the cause of the crash.

At the time the company said the helicopter had just taken off from the ice and no mayday call was made before it fell into a deep crevasse.

The Civil Aviation Authority grounded Alpine Adventure's fleet of helicopters because of safety concerns after the crash and, last July, the company surrendered its license.

The authority charged the company's owner, James Patrick Scott, and quality assurance manager, Barry Waterland, under health and safety legislation.

Both men pleaded not guilty, and - as of 21 November 2016 - a trial date had not been set.

The seven people on board the flight were: Andrew Virco, 50, and Katharine Walker, 51, from Cambridge, UK; Nigel Edwin Charlton, 66, and Cynthia Charlton, 70, of Hampshire, UK; Sovannmony Leang, 27, and Josephine Gibson, 29 of New South Wales, Australia; and New Zealand pilot Mitch Gameren, 28.

Police had advised Mrs Charlton's family in the UK.