23 Nov 2016

Passengers taken off Air NZ flight after threat

8:34 am on 23 November 2016

An Air New Zealand flight at Auckland Airport was evacuated this morning after a threatening text was sent to a passenger.

The plane was due to fly to Christchurch at 7am.

Auckland Airport

Police and dog units are aboard the plane (file photo) Photo: 123RF

Police said a passenger recieved a text with a non-specific threat and the procedure was then to evacuate the aircraft and check it.

Passengers, including Labour MP Jacinda Ardern, were taken off the plane and police and dog units were then sent aboard.

Ms Ardern said passengers were later allowed to re-board the plane.

The plane has now taken off from Auckland Airport, more than an hour after it was originally scheduled to depart.