Air Force ready to evacuate New Zealanders from Fiji

The air force says it could be on the way to Fiji within an hour or so if the political situation deteriorated and New Zealanders needed to be evacuated.

It said a Boeing 757 or C130 Hercules could be sent to the area to pick up New Zealanders who wanted to get out of the country after the overnight coup by military leader Commodore Frank Bainimarama.

The air force said a Hercules flight left the country for Antarctica today and it had yet to be decided if a Boeing or a Hercules would go to Fiji if an evacuation flight was needed.

Air force spokesman, Squadron Leader Glenn Davis said although the air force was on stand-by to evacuate New Zealanders, no time had been set for a flight.

- NZPA