Skydivers leap to safety before plane crashes

All 13 people aboard a New Zealand skydiving plane that suffered an apparent engine failure on Wednesday managed to leap out in parachutes moments before the plane plunged into a lake, according to authorities.

Police spokeswoman Kim Perks said there were six passengers, six crew members and a pilot aboard and all of them landed safely and without significant injuries.

Roy Clements, the chief executive of plane operator Skydive Taupo, said the passengers were all overseas tourists who had each been assigned an instructor for a tandem dive at planned heights of 3,660 meters for some and 4,500m for others.