Police tight-lipped over Queenstown Airport bomb scare

The airport activated its emergency security protocols after a note mentioning a bomb was found by a cleaner on a Qantas flight. Photo / James Allan Photo NZ

Police remain tight-lipped on whether they have made progress in finding the person responsible for a bomb scare at Queenstown Airport yesterday.

The airport activated its emergency security protocols after a note mentioning a bomb was found by a cleaner on a Qantas flight from Sydney after it landed at 2.14pm.

Senior Sergeant Paula Enoka, of Queenstown, said the investigation was continuing and witnesses spoken to so far had been cooperative.

She would not comment on the note's wording or other features, and said police would only make the note public if it was useful to the investigation to do so.

International passengers are taken to the Queenstown Airport terminal after a bomb threat was found yesterday. Photo / Paul Taylor

Were police to catch the person responsible, it was too soon to say what penalties they might face, Sen Sgt Enoka said.

Police and airport staff began evacuating the terminal about 3.20pm. Police, Aviation Security and dog teams searched the Boeing 737-800 plane, the terminal and baggage for about an hour, but nothing was found.

The scare caused disruption for hundreds of passengers and led to the diversion of two incoming domestic flights and the cancellation of three outbound flights, including an international flight to Sydney.