Alert after birdstrike on aircraft

Emergency services were put on standby after a multiple bird strike to an engine of a Dunedin-bound flight yesterday.

But the flight, which had originated in Auckland, with 136 people on board, landed safely at Dunedin International Airport, the Otago Daily Times reported.

The bird strikes happened as it was taking off from Invercargill Airport where it had been diverted due to bad weather.

About 11.30am, three fire units from Mosgiel, Dunedin and Outram, three police units from Mosgiel and Dunedin, and a St John ambulance from Mosgiel were put on emergency stand-by at the airport, along with two of the airport's crash fire units.

- NZPA