Air New Zealand employees are in mourning after discovering that one of their own, Lilik Abdul Hamid, was among the 50 murdered during a vicious shooting in Christchurch late last week.
The Kiwi carrier confirmed the news, saying that Lilik – a father of two and a popular, long-serving Air New Zealand aircraft maintenance engineer – was in the Deans Avenue Mosque at the time of the attacks.
Devastated by the loss, Chief Executive Christopher Luxon described Lilik’s passing as one that is being deeply felt by the entire team, including those with whom he’d made close friendships with over the last 16 years.
“Lilik, his wife Nina and their children Zhania and Gerin are well known and loved by our close-knit team of engineers and their families, who are now doing all they can to support the family alongside our leadership team and the airline’s special assistance team.”
Christopher Luxon, Air New Zealand Chief Executive
“Our thoughts are with them and their family and friends as they come to terms with this terrible loss.”
We are deeply saddened by the shooting tragedy in #Christchurch city and our thoughts go out to all those involved. We are offering flexibility to anyone booked to travel to or from Christchurch today. More information https://t.co/Yc9TxahNcw
— Air New Zealand✈️ (@FlyAirNZ) March 15, 2019
Lilik was one of at least 50 people killed and dozens of others injured during the racially-charged shootings at Christchurch’s two mosques – Deans Avenue in central Christchurch and one in a nearby suburb of Linwood.
Other victims of the horrific attack were three-year-old Mucad Ibrahim who was at the Al Noor mosque with his father and older brother, and 71-year-old Haji-Daoud Nabi who died while trying to save the lives of fellow worshippers.
A goalkeeper for New Zealand’s national men’s futsal team and new father, Atta Elayyan, was also confirmed killed, along with 14-year-old aspiring footballer, Sayyad Milne.
Click here to read more about the victims from Friday’s shooting.
Following the shooting, regional air services to and from Christchurch were disrupted due to a lack of staff to available to handle customer and baggage screenings.
The carrier compensated affected flyers and is offered free travel to the immediate family of the victims as well as discounted compassionate fares to other affected friends and family.
One-way flights directly to and from Christchurch were also capped at $139 to assist other customers needing to travel to the city to support those affected by the tragedy.