The occupants of a glider arrived to an unexpected welcoming committee when they landed at Hood Aerodrome in Masterton yesterday.
Upper Hutt pilot Craig Stobbs and co-pilot Bob Loch were greeted upon landing by a host of emergency services, including a fire truck, ambulance and several police officers, when they landed the 27-metre wide glider at the aerodrome at about 4.15pm.
Mr Stobbs said police had told him they had received reports that a glider had been seen flying in the area with a rope attached to it, but he and Mr Loch were surprised by the "welcoming committee".
Mr Loch said they had been intrigued to find emergency services waiting for them.
Mr Stobbs had previously spoken to police via the glider's radio, he said.