9 die in Fox Glacier air crash

The crash site is shown in this image taken from One News.
The crash site is shown in this image taken from One News.
Nine people have died in a plane crash in Fox Glacier on the West Coast this afternoon.

The pilot and four men, all from Fox Glacier, along with four overseas tourists died when the Fletcher fixed wing plane crashed near the town's airstrip shortly before 1.30pm, Senior Sergeant Allyson Ealam said.

Ms Ealam said the four tourists were from Ireland, England, Germany and Australia, but that police would not be releasing the names until tomorrow after next of kin had been advised.

Emergency services remained at the scene. Police said it was not yet clear what had caused the crash.

A spokesman at the Fox Glacier Inn said everyone in town had been over at the airstrip trying to help where they could.

"It's a small town and everyone knows everyone," he said.