5 Nov 2016

Passengers evacuated on runway after bomb threat

6:10 pm on 5 November 2016

Passengers were evacuated on the Christchurch Airport runway after a bomb threat was made against an Air NZ flight from Palmerston North this afternoon.

Police said reports of a bomb threat on the domestic flight were received at about 2.30pm today.

The plane was then isolated and evacuated when it landed shortly after 3pm.

Aviation Security and police searched the plane, passengers and luggage, but found no evidence of an explosive.

A woman whose husband was on the plane said the aircraft stayed on the runway, which was checked by a police dog.

Passengers were also searched by the dogs before boarding a bus.

Police said they appreciated how distressing the situation may have been for passengers and thanked them for their cooperation.

Air New Zealand said a threat was made to the airline's call centre.