The Transport Accident Investigation Commission has opened an inquiry into an accident involving a Cessna 172P Skyhawk near Nelson on 3 November 2026.The reported circumstances were that the aircraft, registration ZK-BFQ, departed Nelson Airport and was reported overdue just before midday. Search and rescue then located the wreckage in remote terrain near North Castor Peak, Bryant Range, about 20km North-East of Nelson. The two occupants were deceased and the aircraft was destroyed.
Two rail maintenance workers were injured, one seriously, in an electrical arc flash. Their work location had changed and part of their protected worksite was still electrically live. This report highlights the need to control for all hazards, verify protection and reassess when work changes. It holds lessons for everyone who plans, supervises or performs safety-critical work, particularly where work is very busy and numerous hazards and protections overlap.
An electrical arc flash that injured two rail maintenance workers, one seriously, exposed gaps in worksite protection: trains were kept out, but some overhead wires remained live, says the Transport Accident Investigation Commission today in a final report into the accident at Parnell, Auckland, on 4 September 2024.
The Transport Accident Investigation Commission has opened an inquiry into the derailment of a coal train on the Midland Line near Otira at about 10pm on 3 November 2026.The reported circumstances were that KiwiRail-operated coal train 834 was heading towards Christchurch when at least one wagon derailed. The train stopped inside the Otira Tunnel. No injuries were reported, but there was reportedly extensive damage to the train and rail infrastructure.
Bulk carrier Olivia boiler blowback resulting in serious injuries South Port, Bluff, New Zealand, 24 May 2025
Boiler blowback highlights the need to reassess risks when familiar work is carried out in different conditions that make the work more hazardous.
Watchlist 2026 identifies the safety issues of greatest and most immediate concern to the Commission and calls for stronger rail protection, coordinated action at level crossings, and action on recreational boating knowledge and impairment ahead of summer.
The Transport Accident Investigation Commission (TAIC) has published an interim report as part of its ongoing investigation into an incident involving a passenger train on the Johnsonville line north of Wellington on 6 June 2026.
The Commission has released an interim report on its investigation into the 6 June 2026 passenger train incident on Wellington’s Johnsonville Line.
TAIC reports on a de Haviland Q300 aircraft that descended below minimum safe altitude on approach to Timaru at night in June 2023.
Regulators need to scale their oversight to match how much an operator's risk profile is changing and they need to guard against getting too close to the operators they regulate.
An Air New Zealand ATR72 aircraft experienced an engine fire as it approached Wellington Airport, prompting a mayday, safe landing and evacuation of all passengers and crew with no serious injuries. The fire was caused by a crack in a turbine blade that caused the blade to break.