Crash: Air New Zealand A320 near Perpignan on Nov 27th 2008, impacted Mediterranean Sea

An Air New Zealand Airbus A320-200, registration ZK-OJL (D-AXLA), test flight GXL888T from Perpignan (France) to Frankfurt/Main (Germany) with 7 people (2 Germans, 5 New Zealanders) on board, crashed into the Mediterranean Sea off the coast near Perpignan (France) at 16:46 local (15:45Z), approximately 7km (3.8nm) before Saint-Cyprien.

The airplane had taken off Perpignan's runway 15 for a test flight at around 16:30 local (15:30Z), when it disappeared from radar. Coast Guard patrol boats as well as a helicopter by the Navy found floating parts, the airplane itsself is reported sunken, water depth being 45 meters at that location. Three bodies were recovered, four occupants are still missing.

XL Airways Germany said, they don't know exactly what happened. Their aircraft D-AXLA was to be transferred to Air New Zealand, resuming its original registration ZK-OJL in the New Zealand aircraft register. The airplane came out of the maintenance and was to be verified. Initially XL Airways received the information, that the airplane had successfully ditched until the news of the crash arrived. Two German employees of XL Airways were on board as well as 5 New Zealanders. The airplane was already back in Air New Zealand colors with the original Air New Zealand interior restored. The airplane should have returned to New Zealand in December.

Air New Zealand confirmed the loss of their aircraft. The airplane was flown by two XL Airways Germany pilots. Aboard were also one senior Air New Zealand captain, 3 ANZ engineers and 1 inspector from New Zealand's CAA. The airplane was expected back in New Zealand later this week. The flight was the final test flight to establish, that the airplane was up to Air New Zealand standards. According to their information only one body has been found, although there are reports of three bodies being recovered.

An eye witness reported, that the Airbus was at a height of estimated 300 meters (1000 feet), when it suddenly fell into the sea. There was no explosion. He said, there are many more witnesses of the crash.

The airplane impacted the sea at 4:46am 28th of November New Zealand time, exactly 29 years after an Air New Zealand DC-10 impacted Mount Erebus in the Antarctica on Nov 28th 1979.

ASN ACCIDENT DIGEST 2008-19

Date: 27 NOV 2008
Time: 16:46
Type: Airbus A320-232
Operator: XL Airways Germany
Registration: D-AXLA
C/n / msn: 2500
First flight: 2005
Engines: 2 IAE V2500-A1
Crew: Fatalities: 7 / Occupants: 7
Passengers: Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 0
Total: Fatalities: 7 / Occupants: 7
Airplane damage: Written off
Location: 7 km off Saint-Cyprien (France)
Phase: Approach
Nature: Test
Departure airport: Perpignan Airport (PGF)
Destination airport: Perpignan Airport (PGF)
Flightnumber:

Airbus A320 D-AXLA had been leased by XL Airways Germany since May 2006. The airplane was due to be returned to its owner, Air New Zealand, on December 1, 2008. The Airbus was ferried to Perpignan (PGF) where it underwent maintenance at EAS Industries. It was also repainted in full Air New Zealand livery, but retained the registration D-AXLA.

French newspaper Midi Libre reported that the airplane carried out a test flight on the morning of November 27. D-AXLA departed Perpignan in the afternoon for a second test flight.

On board were two XL Airways pilots, a senior Air New Zealand pilot, three Air New Zealand engineers, and a N.Z. Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) inspector.

On approach back to Perpignan radio contact was lost while the A320 was at 3500 feet. A radar controller reportedly saw the airplane descending fast in a left hand turn.
It struck the sea and broke up.