American-Born Wireless Executive And His Wife Fatally Injured In The Accident

The remains of two people on board a Beech Baron that went down in the South Pacific Ocean off the coast of New Zealand have been recovered by New Zealand authorities. Parts of the airplane have been brought to the surface as well.

The plane was being flown by American Eric Hertz, the chief executive of New Zealand's Two Degrees Mobile. His wife Kathy was on board with him when the airplane went down.

Fox News reports that the two were flying from Auckland to the town of Timaru on South Island on Saturday. He reportedly said that an engine of the Baron had failed, and the plane went down about 93 miles south of Auckland in about 184 feet of water. Divers reportedly recovered the first body Saturday, and the second on Sunday, along with some of the wreckage of the airplane.

The accident is under investigation by New Zealand's Civil Aviation Authority.

In a statement, the family said that "The recovery of Eric and Kathy, along with the wreckage of the aircraft is of immense relief to us all. Knowing that they can rest together in peace and that we can say our farewells is of huge comfort at this time."

(Beech Baron pictured in file photo. Not accident airplane)

FMI: www.caa.govt.nz