MP reveals skydiving excursions with Fox Glacier crash victim

Damien O'Connor and Sue Parkinson at the Queenstown Winter Festival. Photo / Herald on Sunday

Labour MP Damien O'Connor had gone skydiving three times with Rodney Miller, who died at the weekend in the airplane crash in Fox Glacier Village.

"I've jumped out of a plane with Rod Miller on three occasions and can attest to his professionalism and enthusiasm," Mr O'Connor told the House today.

Question time in the House, usually a combative time, was replaced yesterday by statements to the House about the tragic events at the weekend.

The airplane crashed killed pilot Chaminda Senadhira, jumpmasters Mr Miller, Adam Bennett, Michael Suter and Christopher McDonald, and tourists Patrick Byrne, Glen Bourke, Annita Kirsten and Brad Coker.

"Less than 12 hours after a massive earthquake on the east coast without any loss of life, it seems almost incomprehensible that nine lives could be lost in the course a normal tourism operation on the west coast," Mr O'Connor said.

"Four jumpmasters prepared as they had for literally thousands of jumps before this fateful occasion. Friends of the deceased waited and watched as this crash occurred right in front of them."

He said he had visited the site yesterday, as local MP Chris Auchinvole had also done.

"The people are stunned. The community is numb," Mr O'Connor said.

Pilot Chaminda Senadhira left behind a wife and daughter "who will be in shock. We offer them our deepest sympathy and support."

Act MP John Boscawen added his party's support and felt for the girlfriends of the victims that had watched their partners die.

"No words of mine can mitigate the pain and the sorrow of the nine victims."

Transport Minister Steven Joyce said the aviation and skydiving industries were small tight-knit communities.

"I know they are feeling devastated by what has happened."

Many of the village's homes overlooked the airstrip and would have witnessed the crash or its aftermath, he said.

Russel Norman from the Green Party, Te Ururoa Flavell from the Maori Party and United Future's Peter Dunne also offered sympathies on behalf of their parties.