All 13 Aboard Skydive Plane Escape Crash

All 13 people aboard a New Zealand skydive plane managed to jump to safety Wednesday after the aircraft had an engine failure. There were six customers going for a tandem jump with six employees of Skydive Taupo when the engine problems developed shortly after takeoff from Taupo Airport. The six customers likely needed little prodding to get out the door with their skydivers as the aircraft headed for watery end in Lake Taupo, a popular tourist area on the country's north island. The pilot, who also wore a parachute, was right after them. It appears the crash plane was a PAC 750XL.

Details are sketchy but it appears the aircraft was relatively low, possibly below 2,000 feet AGL, when the occupants made their hasty exit. Most of the tandem jumpers landed in the water and then made it safely to shore. The pilot, however, landed in a thicket of blackberry bushes and had to be cut free by firefighters. No one was seriously hurt. The aircraft ended up in 10 feet of water about 700 feet from shore.