The New Zealand national carrier, Air New Zealand, just recently apologized to victims and families of the nation’s worst air disaster ever. This big disaster happened over 30 years ago.

The chief executive of Air New Zealand, Rob Fyfe, unveiled a memorial last Friday for the 257 people that were killed when an Air New Zealand DC10 crashed into Mount Erebus in Antarctica on November 28, 1979. This was New Zealand’s worst peacetime disaster.

Rob Fyfe went on to say that he was sorry to everyone who was affected by the crash and did not receive the compassion and support they should have from Air New Zealand. He went on to say that he hoped that the apology would make up for the many of failings that have occurred in the days, months and years after the disaster took place.

Of course, Rob Fyfe did say that he would not go as far as to apologize for the accident itself, or the airline’s actions during the investigations of the cause of the crash. An investigation that was done by New Zealand’s then chief air accident investigator attributed the crash to a pilot error. However, an inquiry did suggest that the airliner’s navigational computers had been incorrectly programmed and accused airline executives of trying to cover up evidence and misleading investigators.

Rob Fyfe said that he was sorry for the fact that families did not receive enough support during the aftermath of the crash. Although some families did receive financial compensation, many complained that there was a lack of communication or emotional support.