Tributes to Briton in air tragedy

Brad Coker, 24, from Farnborough, Hants, was one of nine people who died when the light aircraft crashed at the runway at Fox Glacier Airport on South Island on Friday.

Accident investigators said they were confident they would discover the cause of the crash.

Six investigators from New Zealand's Transport Accident Investigation Commission were travelling to the crash scene yesterday, with a full inspection of the site due to take place today.

Chief crash investigator Ian McClelland said: "We are pretty confident we can identify most – if not all – of the contributing factors."

Mr Coker's friends posted messages on Facebook. Daniel Avery said: "Rest in Peace Brad Coker, pleasure to have met you buddy."

Mr Coker's friend, Jessica Boutcher, from London, said: "(I don't) know what to say, so much love to your family and friends. You were living life to the max and were taken doing the crazy things you loved. R.I.P. mate, sleep well xxx."

Meanwhile John Kerr of Skydive New Zealand told the New Zealand Herald he was "absolutely devastated and numbed" by the crash.

He said: "On behalf of the surviving members of the company all of our thoughts are with the families of all nine people whose lives have been lost, here in New Zealand and in England, Ireland, Germany and Australia."

Mr Kerr said the company, operating at the glacier for 12 years, had a "100 per cent robust safety track record".

The other dead included 26-year-old Patrick Byrne, an Irishman from County Wexford, the pilot and four skydiving instructors, all from New Zealand, and tourists from Germany and Australia.

It is believed the plane was taking the foreigners up to take part in a tandem skydive.

Police said it was a Fletcher fixed-wing plane, which is popular for skydiving and scenic flights over the well-known adventure sports area.

Fox Glacier is a popular tourist spot in New Zealand's Southern Alps, about 90 miles from Christchurch.