Emergency services have responded after an aircraft made a hard landing at Tauranga Airport.
A pilot who witnessed a small plane make a “hard landing” at Tauranga Airport today says the situation was handled with textbook professionalism.
Emergency services responded to the runway about noon as a precaution for an incoming plane with landing gear issues.
The aircraft landed safely and one passengersuffered minor injuries.
Video of the incident showed the aircraft touch down with all landing gear down, before the front gear collapsed and the nose scraped along the tarmac as the plane came to a stop.
Retired airline pilot Craig Watson told SunLive he was flying an aircraft that landed just before the one in trouble, and heard the incident unfold over the radio.
Emergency staff responded after the plane made a “hard landing” at Tauranga Airport today.
The pilot did a low fly past the tower, which confirmed the landing gear was not in the down and locked position - he was going to have to land with the nose wheel collapsing.
The plane left for about 20 minutes while emergency services gathered.
“When the guy landed, he did balloon a little bit, but the landing itself was exactly as he should have done - landed on the seal, not the grass,” said Watson.
A grass landing could have caused the nose to dig in and the aircraft to cartwheel.
Emergency services on the Tauranga Airport runway after a small craft had a hard landing. Photo / Megan Wilson
Once it had come to a grinding halt, the passengers immediately evacuated, and fire trucks were there in seconds, spraying preventative foam.
Watson said he had flown around world and heard a few emergency scenarios unfold much less calmly. He said it was “professional” and “pretty impressive”.
He expected the runway may require some repair.
Fire and Emergency NZ said three crews were called to the airport as a precaution about noon.
A screenshot from Flight Radar shows a plane circling over Tauranga today.
“The aircraft has landed safely,” a spokesman said.
Police were also notified, and said the aircraft “made a hard landing”.
Hato Hone St John said two ambulances, one rapid response vehicle and one operations manager attended.
One person was treated at the scene for minor injuries.
A witness at the Classic Flyers Aviation Museum & Cafe next to the airport said they had seen fire trucks and ambulances go by, but did not know what was happening.
An employee of Ebbett Prestige, near the airport, said they had seen “one of those giant emergency responder trucks” as well as ambulances, fire engines and a police car.
According to flight tracking website Flightradar24, a small plane had been circling above the airport.
