A320 Had Just Been Repainted For Redelivery To Carrier

Aviation accident investigators are talking a close look at whether the recent repaint of an Air New Zealand Airbus A320 contributed to a fatal crash last week that claimed the seven people onboard.

As ANN reported, the A320 was nearing the end of a maintenance checkout flight November 27, when it suddenly plunged into the Mediterranean Sea while on approach to Perpignan, France. The plane was slated to be returned to owner Air New Zealand after coming off lease to Germany's XL Airways.

The Australian newspaper reports a firm in Perpignan had recently painted the aircraft in the ANZ livery. Media reports indicate the accident flight was the plane's first since it was repainted... raising the possibility a static port or other sensor area may have been painted over, or was still masked off.

Contrary to that theory is the knowledge the airliner apparently flew without incident two hours before it crashed into the sea.

Investigators hope the plane's cockpit voice recorder will shed some light on the flight's last moments. Crews recovered the CVR this weekend, and it appears to be in good condition. Crews have also located the flight data recorder, and hoped to recover that vital equipment early this week.

In related news, Air New Zealand identified their employees believed killed in the crash: pilot Brian Horrell, 52; Murray White, 37, an engineer from Auckland; and engineers Michael Gyles, 49, and Noel Marsh, 35.

Civil Aviation Authority official Jeremy Cook, 58, from Wellington, was also on board the airliner, which was flown by two German pilots.

FMI: www.bea-fr.org, www.ntsb.gov, www.caa.govt.nz/