Thought To Be Plane That Had Gone Missing Four Months Ago, Pilot's Body Still In The Cockpit

A fishing trawler working off the coast of New Zealand snagged the wreckage of a biplane in its nets that is thought to be that of an airplane that went missing four months ago.

The wreckage was pulled to the surface near Cape Barrier. It resembles a home built biplane belonging to 53-year-old Daroish Kraidy, which had gone missing earlier this year, according to a report appearing in the New Zealand Herald. An extensive air and sea search of the area after the plane went missing failed to locate the wreckage.

There was a body in the cockpit of the plane that was snagged by the trawler. New Zealand Civil Aviation Authority spokesman Mike Richards said that Kraidy's plane was the only one of New Zealand registry known to be missing.

Kraidy had reportedly been a pilot for about 35 years, including serving as a jet pilot for the South African Air Force, and had lived in New Zealand for the last "13 or 14 years" according to the report. He had previously flown for New Zealand in the Precision Flying World Championships.

FMI: www.caa.govt.nz