Seven dead as plane crashes in New Zealand

A charter plane carrying 10 people crashed today in New Zealand, killing at least seven people, emergency services said.

Two others were in a serious condition in hospital and one person was missing, said Christchurch airport chief executive George Bellew.

The Piper Chieftain went “off radar” about two miles from the airport. The wreckage was found two and a half hours later.

The plane had been flying from Palmerston North on New Zealand’s North Island to Christchurch on the South Island.

It was believed to have been on an executive charter flight. and the nationalities of those on board were not immediately clear.

Christchurch is about 200 miles south-west of the capital Wellington.