Survivors settle out of court

A damages claim on behalf of survivors and families of those killed in the Southern Air plane crash in Foveaux Strait has been settled out of court.

Invercargill lawyer Christine French, acting for the claimants, said all court action had been halted.

Settlement terms were confidential, she said.

The pilot of the Cessna 402, Robin Andrews, and passengers Eric Hawkes, Caroline Pruden-Francis, Ivan Mitchell and Russell Chisholm were killed in the August 1998 crash.

Russell, aged 7, died in his father's arms just before rescuers arrived. His body was never found.

Brian McEwan, of Invercargill, and Russell Chisholm's father John, brother George, sister Samantha and grandfather Adam survived after being hauled from the chilly strait with hypothermia.

Southern Air managing director Alan Aitcheson sold the airline last May.

- NZPA