AN INQUIRY by the Tasmanian government has recommended tight controls

of flights over Macquarie Island near Antarctica.

Earlier this year, about 7000 king penguins, mainly juveniles, died

on the island when they stampeded and were crushed against thick tussock

grass (This Week, 30 June).

The inquiry found that the most likely cause of the stampede was a major,

sustained disturbance which was probably caused by the approach of a large

aircraft flying at low altitude.

A Hercules transport plane of the Royal Australian Air Force flew near

Macquarie Island about the time of the deaths, but the RAAF has denied that

the plane caused the stampede.

State investigators were not able to interview the aircrew.