Wellington  - Air New Zealand confirmed Friday that one of its Airbus A320 jets had crashed into the Mediterranean Sea off France with seven people aboard.

An airline statement said the plane had been on lease to XL Airways of Germany for the last two years and was being flown to Frankfurt where it was due to be returned and flown back New Zealand.

Chief executive Rob Fyfe told a news conference in Auckland that five New Zealanders and two German pilots were on board.

He said they included an Air New Zealand pilot, three engineers and an inspector from New Zealand's Civil Aviation Authority.

One of the crew members was confirmed dead and six missing, feared dead, by French authorities late Thursday. (dpa)