*27 November 2008 - an [[Air New Zealand]]-owned [[Airbus A320]] on a post-maintenance flight crashed into the [[Mediterranean Sea]] seven kilometers east of the French city of [[Perpignan]], near the border with Spain killing seven people on board, including four Air New Zealand representatives and a [[Civil Aviation Authority of New Zealand|Civil Aviation Authority]] inspector. The aircraft was leased to [[XL Airways Germany]], a European-based airline and was being overhauled by a local French company located at the [[Perpignan - Rivesaltes Airport]]. <ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10545449|title=
Five New Zealanders feared dead after Air NZ plane crashes |publisher=[[NZ Herald]]|date=2008-11-28}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7754863.stm|title=Seas scoured after Airbus crash |publisher=[[BBC News]]|date=2008-11-28}}</ref>
