The crash of Flight 901 is one of New Zealand 's three deadliest disasters – the others being the 1874 '' Cospatrick '' sailing ship disaster in which 470 people died , and the 1931 Hawke 's Bay earthquake , which killed 256 people . At the time of the disaster , it was the - deadliest air crash of all time . , the crash remains Air New Zealand 's deadliest accident , as well as New Zealand 's deadliest peacetime disaster
1931 Hawke 's Bay earthquake
1931 Hawke's Bay earthquake
Air New Zealand Flight 901