A military investigation has found series of human errors caused a New Zealand navy ship to plough into a Samoan reef and sink in October.

Military inquiry finds human error caused the sinking of a New Zealand navy ship off the coast of Samoa in October

Human error led to the sinking of a New Zealand Navy vessel earlier this year, a Court of Inquiry has found. The HMNZS Manawanui was carrying out survey work off the coast of the South Pacific island of Samoa on Oct. 5 when it ran aground on a reef. The crew abandoned the ship, which subsequently caught fire, capsized and sunk. No lives were lost.

A New Zealand Defence Force Court of Inquiry found that crew error caused the Royal New Zealand Navy hydrographic dive and survey ship HMNZS Manawanui (A09) to run aground and sink in October. An NZDF release on Friday cited RNZN head Rear Adm.

Crew aboard the HMNZS Manawanui left the ship on autopilot, which caused it to crash into a reef and sink, according to a preliminary investigation.

New Zealand naval ship HMNZS Manawanui was on autopilot when it crashed into a coral reef, caught ablaze and sank in Samoan waters, according to an official inquiry.

A New Zealand naval ship that struck a coral reef before catching fire and sinking last month, marking the country's first naval loss since World War II, was mistakenly left on autopilot. Crew members of the HMNZS Manawanui,