Kiwi soldiers were confronted with a "chaotic scene" when they rushed to rescue survivors of a plane crash in Papua New Guinea, the Defence Force says.
Three people, including both pilots, were killed when a Hevilift Twin Otter aircraft crashed near near Port Moresby on Saturday morning.
A fourth person, one of nine people aboard the plane, died in hospital on Sunday.
The plane crashed 3km from a base where soldiers from the New Zealand and Papua New Guinea defence forces had been training.
Personnel from both forces, including medics and a doctor, worked together at the crash site to remove debris from the aircraft, cut tracks, and treat and later evacuate the survivors, some of whom were in serious condition.
NZDF land component commander Brigadier Peter Kelly said he was proud of the emergency work done in very challenging conditions by the Kiwi soldiers.
"The Kiwi and PNG personnel jumped straight in when help was needed and used their soldier training to provide immediate and crucial assistance," he said.
"They had to deploy into an unfamiliar and chaotic scene with little to no information. They and their PNG colleagues made the best of a bad situation.
"Our thoughts now are with the families of those who were killed, and those who are still recovering from their injuries, but we are very glad that we were able to help when help was needed."
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