Passengers forced to exit plane at Tauranga Airport

Tauranga Airport. Photo / File

Passengers were forced to exit a plane on the Tauranga Airport runway this morning.

An Air New Zealand spokeswoman said passengers were told to get off a plane because a smoke indicator light came on while the aircraft was taxiing to the runway.

"Customers disembarked the aircraft normally and were been transported back to the terminal as a precaution," she said.

"Customers are being accommodated on alternative services today. Engineers were inspecting the aircraft this morning."

A Fire and Emergency New Zealand spokesman said they were called to Tauranga Airport about 7.50am regarding an incident on a plane.

The passengers on the plane, which was preparing to take off, were evacuated.

There was no fire and the situation was under control, he said.

A police spokesman said they were called to assist fire crews.

There was a fire warning for an aircraft preparing to take off and passengers were evacuated.

This did not mean there was a fire, he said.