Families head to France to remember Air NZ crash victims

Relatives of the New Zealand crew who died in the Air New Zealand A320 crash in France a year ago head to France next weekend for the unveiling of a plaque in their memory.

The Airbus A320 crashed into the sea near Perpignan, killing all five New Zealanders and two German crew on board.

The crash occurred while the plane, which had been leased to German airline XL Airways, was undergoing acceptance trials before being handed back to Air New Zealand.

The New Zealand families will to travel to Canet-en-Roussillon, a seaside town on the Mediterranean coast, and meet the coastguard, gendarmes and police who responded to the emergency call when the A320 crashed into the sea, the Weekend Herald reported today.

Mayor Arlette Franco, who will unveil the plaque to the memory of the seven victims, said the town had been enormously touched by the gratitude expressed by the bereaved.

"Tragically, we can never restore these lost souls to the heart of their families, but the citizens of Canet-en-Roussillon are bound forever to these New Zealanders, who will always be welcome here," she said. "Canet-en-Roussillon is now closer than ever to New Zealand, and these bonds, these bonds of the heart, can never be undone."

The cause of the crash had yet to be determined.

- NZPA