A pilot on his way home from visiting friends was forced to crash land his two-seater plane into the sea after it lost power soon after take-off.
Holidaymakers at the popular coastal settlement of Whananaki North, 25km northeast of Whangarei, witnessed the Zenith 701 plunge into the water metres from a boat ramp just before 3pm yesterday.
Whangarei pilot Gary Eady and his passenger, older brother Dale, managed to make their way out of the partially submerged aircraft into waist-deep water before volunteer firefighters and members of the public helped flick the plane over and pull it out of the water.
It was close to high tide when they made their unscheduled landing.
The brothers left Onerahi Airport for Whananaki North about 11am to visit friends camping at the popular holiday spot. They decided to return home after a couple of hours.