A female passenger has been arrested and a pilot is reportedly in hospital after a possible stabbing on a flight from Blenheim to Christchurch this morning.She has not been identified.
Police issued a statement just minutes ago saying that a May Day call was received from the plane - an Air National Flight operated by Eagle Air travelling from Blenheim to Christchurch - at around 7.40am.
The call, routed to police from the NZ Rescue Co-ordination centre in Wellington, said a female passenger had attacked the pilots before she was bundled out of the cockpit.
The pilots told police they had suffered minor injuries.
According to police, the passenger also claimed she had a bomb on board.
Superintendent Dave Cliff said the plane, which landed safely at Christchurch airport at 8.06am, was still being searched.
All nine passengers on board were safe, he said.
He will hold a briefing at 10.30am on police inquiries.
A source at Christchurch Airport said the woman has been taken away in an ambulance, possibly suffering dog-bites.
Philippa Green, a passenger at the airport, said passengers were at first told to stay away from the terminal's windows but the entire airport was now being evacuated.This report indicates she threatened to blow up the plane.
She said: "There are people everywhere saying 'get out, get out, get out'."
She was waiting on another plane when the incident unfolded. She saw the woman, who she described as being middle-aged and dressed in black clothes, being arrested by armed police.
Ms Green said all shops and services are being evacuated after reports that a bomb was on board the plane.
Security guards had initially warned people to move away from the windows but now the entire airport is being evacuated.
"From what I've heard, there was a woman on board who attempted to stab both pilots," Ms Green said.
Update.
No comments:
Post a Comment