Breakdown grounds RNZAF relief flight

An RNZAF C130 Hercules. File picture / Christchurch Star

JAKARTA - Equipment failure today delayed a New Zealand Air Force relief flight from Jakarta to Indonesia's tsumani-stricken Aceh province, and could prevent Foreign Affairs Minister Phil Goff visiting the region.

Mr Goff had planned to hitch a ride on the Hercules C130, but the transport aircraft's ground power unit, which is used to start the engines, broke down.

Air force staff said that without the ground power unit, the C130 would have to keep its engines running while it was on the ground in Aceh and it could not carry enough fuel for that.

They were trying to get a spare unit from another C130 in the area so they could carry on their work.

It was not immediately known how long it would take to get a spare unit to Jakarta, or whether Mr Goff would stay in the Indonesian capital to wait for it.

The minister has been visiting the worst hit areas of south Asia, assessing how New Zealand can best help the international relief effort.

Aceh, which has suffered the worst devastation, was his next stop.

Mr Goff earlier told NZPA he was planning to meet local officials to discuss their needs.

He said a New Zealand defence force medical team waiting in Malaysia would fly into Aceh within the next 36 hours.

New Zealand currently has three air force aircraft ferrying supplies within the region, and Prime Minister Helen Clark has said they will stay there as long as they are needed.

- NZPA