Aircraft 'smoke' brings rapid response

The Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) Hercules

Reports of a large low-flying plane billowing smoke sparked a major emergency callout in Northland.

Emergency services were called to Kohukohu yesterday after residents reported spotting a low-flying plane trailing smoke.

Fire crews, ambulance and police were sent to the area before it was learned the plane was a Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) Hercules aircraft which was in the area for a training exercise.

Hutt Valley based Rescue Co-ordination Centre New Zealand, the national search and rescue organisation, was told of the incident about 10.30am.

"Someone saw a low-flying, smoking plane, it ended up being a Defence Force Hercules plane," said centre spokesman Steve Rendle. "The smoke was probably its normal exhaust."

Northland police Search and Rescue co-ordinator Senior Sergeant Cliff Metcalfe said two or three residents had thought the "large dark, metallic low-flying plane" might crash.

"They were a bit concerned, they thought it might be in trouble," said Mr Metcalfe.

A Defence Force spokesman said that the RNZAF was conducting Exercise Skytrain - an annual training of C-130 crews in tactical flying.

"This is week two of a two-week exercise. Skytrain is annual activity that moves around various locations within New Zealand."

The spokesman said it was believed a ground fire was in progress about the time the aircraft flew over, which might explain the reports of smoke, although engine exhaust was sometimes more visible on certain days.