15 Aug 2017

Flights resume after light aircraft crash at Queenstown Airport

11:22 am on 15 August 2017

A light aircraft has crashed while taking off at Queenstown Airport this morning.

Queenstown Airport against the backdrop of The Remarkables mountain range.

All arriving and departing flights at Queenstown Airport have been put on hold. Photo: Queenstown Airport

Police said four people were on board the plane when it crashed off the end of the runway shortly before 9am, with one suffering minor injuries. The injured person was been taken to Lakes District Hospital.

In a statement, the airport said its emergency response plan was immediately activated.

One passenger taken to hospital with a suspected broken ankle had since been discharged, it said.

Flights in and out of the airport were put on hold when the Cessna crashed but have since resumed.

The aircraft was removed from the airfield and the runway was inspected before flights started again at 10.50am.

Ten flights were affected and the airlines were working to reschedule the services, the airport said.