Pilot and passenger pulled from plane after emergency landing

Tuesday, 9 January 2018

Two people have sustained moderate injuries, after a light plane was forced to make an emergency landing in South Auckland. 

Emergency services found the light plane near the Hunua Dam in South Auckland.

The two on board were a trainee and instructor in a training flight gone wrong, a Westpac rescue helicopter crew member said.

'They were lucky to be alive.' 

The Westpac helicopter had to winch the pilot and passenger out of the plane, which was reportedly suspended in trees.

The pilot used a mobile phone to call nearby Ardmore Airport to report they had made the emergency landing, but were unsure where exactly they were.

Police and other emergency services spent some time in the area searching, before locating the plane and pilot and passenger. 

​Both the pilot and passenger sustained moderate injuries.

The Westpac crew member said it had been difficult to locate the plane in the dense bush.