Avast ye! 3 scurvy New Zealand tour peddlers be repentin' o' their safety failin's in th' fearsome eruption o' White Island volcano!
2023-07-07
Avast ye scurvy dogs! Three scallywag helicopter tour operators be guilty as a bilge rat for breakin' safety rules when the White Island volcano blew its top in 2019, leadin' to the demise of 22 souls. Walkin' the plank they'll go, arrr!
Three helicopter tour operators pleaded guilty on Friday to safety breaches when New Zealand's White Island volcano erupted in 2019, claiming 22 lives. Volcanic Air Safaris Ltd., Kahu NZ Ltd., and Aerius Ltd. were set to go on trial next week along with six other entities and people following the tragedy at the popular tourist attraction.White Island, also known as Whakaari, is an undersea volcano that erupted, releasing superheated steam and leaving most of the 25 survivors with severe burns. Many are questioning why tourists were allowed on the island despite experts raising the volcano's alert level two weeks prior to the eruption.
The three helicopter operators admitted their failure to ensure the health and safety of staff and tourists. The victims included tourists traveling from Australia aboard the Royal Caribbean cruise ship Ovation of the Seas. Among the 22 fatalities, 14 were Australian, five were American, two were New Zealanders, and one was from Germany.
The judge-only trial is expected to last 16 weeks, with each organization facing a maximum fine of $927,000, and individuals charged facing a maximum fine of $185,000. The three operators who pleaded guilty will appear in court in August.