Pilot calls for help after smoke warning during landing at Christchurch Airport

Tuesday, 21 December 2021

Fire crews were called to Christchurch Airport when the pilot of an Air New Zealand plane coming into land called for help after spotting a smoke warning light in the cockpit.

The plane, flight NZ5777 from Napier, was landing at about 5.30pm on Tuesday when the pilot was alerted to a potential problem by a smoke indicator warning light, an Air NZ spokeswoman said.

As a precaution, the captain alerted emergency services to meet the aircraft at the gate, but there was no smoke or fire and passengers disembarked the aircraft normally.

A Fire and Emergency New Zealand spokesman said they received a report of an engine fire aboard the plane.

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A crew based at the airport was scrambled along with others from Ilam, Wigram and a command unit from Christchurch, but were called off minutes later after firefighters on the ground found no signs of fire.

Police and ambulance services were also called before being stood down.