Aviation bosses have ordered the biggest grounding of aircraft in the country's history amid fears a helicopter fault may be behind the deaths of two men.
The Civil Aviation Authority yesterday grounded 80 helicopters two days after Stephen Combe and James Gardner died in a crash in Queenstown.
It is believed a rotor blade from the Robinson R44 helicopter they were flying may have failed. Aircraft parts have been sent to the US for analysis. The indefinite grounding will dent parts of the tourism and agriculture industries where the choppers are commonly used.
CAA spokesman Mike Richards said owners of the helicopters had been ordered to get their aircraft back to home base and told not to fly. It was not clear how long they would be grounded for.
"There are quite severe penalties if anyone is caught flying once the directive is handed out," said Richards. "We don't do things like this lightly but you can't put a price on safety. It's better that our reputation and skies are safe."
