Air Force sent to rescue Tongan boat

A Royal New Zealand Air Force Orion found a fishing boat with engine failure before it drifted onto reefs near Tonga overnight.

The No 5 Squadron P-3K Orion left Whenuapai Air Base in Auckland at 11.30pm yesterday to search for a boat which sent out an unregistered emergency locator beacon signal about 50 nautical miles, or 92km, northwest of Nuku'alofa, Tonga, the Defence Force said today.

The Orion found the charter fishing vessel Predator through its beacon signal about 3am.

The Predator reported it had engine failure and was drifting toward coral reefs in the area.

The nearby vessel Waimana was directed to the boat by the Orion and towed Predator back to Nuku'alofa today.

- NZPA