She had a smile that lit up the room, was a perfect mother and a trailblazer in her field, say the family of an Air New Zealand pilot who died after suffering a suspected aneurism at the controls of a plane only moments after landing in Perth.
Ann Barbarich, a pilot of 27 years and one of the first female pilots to work for Air New Zealand, had just guided the plane onto the tarmac with 233 passengers from Auckland on board when the serious medical incident struck on Sunday afternoon.
One of the three other pilots in the cockpit at the time took control of the plane, taxiing it to the gate while the others went to her aid.
Two doctors were then rushed on board, and Captain Barbarich was taken to the Royal Perth Hospital. The 59-year-old died two days later of a suspected brain aneurism with her family by her side.
Her husband Michael Bacher told NZME News Service he met "the most wonderful mother and wife you could have ever wished for" at at a gliding club in Matamata many years ago.
He was struck by the "outstanding, lovely person" who was "very skilled and very professional and a lot of fun".
But most of all, he was taken by her "smile that lit up the whole room".
"She really was one of the most outstanding females in the aviation industry. She touched many, many lives. She was the perfect mother and the perfect professional at the same time.
"It's just too early and devastating and completely unexpected."
Captain Barbarich's daughter Bianca said her mother was "the best mother you could ever, ever imagine and over and above that".
"She was an incredible pilot and role model and a really incredible lady. She was always so bubbly and had such an incredible personality.
"She was amazing and we're just so devastated that she just left us too early."
Her mother also inspired her to take up recreational flying, Ms Barbarich-Bacher said.
"Our family love flying ... she was a trailblazer in the aviation [industry] in New Zealand. She was incredible."
In a statement, Air New Zealand said Captain Barbarich was a "well-known and respected long haul pilot".
She was in the process of transitioning from the Boeing 747 to the airline's newest plane, the Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner. She had just landed one of the new Dreamliners, with four pilots on board as part of a training programme, when the sudden medical incident occurred.
A passenger told The West Australian they hardly noticed anything had happened.
"The approach to Perth and landing was smooth and there was only a slightly heavier braking on the runway than was noticeable."
Air New Zealand chief pilot David Morgan said Captain Barbarich was at the controls on landing and the aircraft landed normally.
"Unfortunately after landing she became seriously ill. Another pilot took over and taxied the aircraft to the gate while the other pilots began to assist Ann."
She would be sadly missed by everyone at Air New Zealand, he said.
In an internal statement sent to Air New Zealand staff, Captain Morgan said she passed away "while becoming seriously ill while on a tour of duty during her conversion to the 787".
"Ann's friendships with other Air New Zealanders extend well beyond flight operations and safety and she will be sorely missed by many people right across the business."
NZ Association of Women in Aviation president Sue Telford said Captain Barbarich would leave a huge gap in the association's pool of knowledge as one of their most experienced commercial pilots.
"Ann basically blazed the trail. She did her helicopter flying, she was a parachutist, she did gliding -- so she also had quite an extensive general aviation background."
Ms Telford described Captain Barbarich, a member of the association since the early 1980s, as a very gracious woman who was known to take fledgling pilots under her wing.
Captain Barbarich was a "well driven, really supportive mum".
"She's going to have a big send-off," Ms Telford said.
Captain Barbarich's family was expected to accompany her body back from Perth early this morning, to be met by an Air New Zealand guard of honour in full uniform.
She will be farewelled at the Holy Trinity Cathedral in Parnell next Friday. In lieu of flowers, the family appealed for donations to be made to Koru Care.
By Patrice Dougan and Brendan Manning of NZME News Service
