Pilot in court for after-hours flight

Photo / NZ Herald

The pilot of a passenger jet that took off from Queenstown in breach of flight rules is expected to appear in court today.

The pilot faces two charges under the Civil Aviation Act.

It's alleged that the pilot of the Pacific Blue flight to Australia with 140 passengers and crew on board, took off nearly an hour after scheduled departure time last winter.

Flight rules stipulate that planes must not take off unless there is at least 30 minutes of twilight remaining.

Queenstown Airport doesn't have runway lights and lies between rugged mountain ranges.

The airline has not been charged.

- Newstalk ZB