Ceiling collapse injures 15 airport staff

Officials inspect the collapsed ceiling at the Cathay Pacific check-in counter at Auckland Airport yesterday. Picture / Glenn Jeffrey

Up to 15 staff were injured when more than a dozen ceiling tiles collapsed at Auckland Airport yesterday.

The tiles fell from about 5m on to new check-in counters used by Cathay Pacific airline.

When the accident happened about 1.20pm, passengers were checking in for a flight to Hong Kong. A few passengers were struck by tiles, but airport spokesman Haldane Dodd said they felt well enough to board their flight, which was delayed for unrelated reasons.

The new section of the airport was evacuated and secured, and flight processing was shifted to other check-in counters. There were no other delays related to the collapse.

Five staff working at the Cathay Pacific counter were taken by ambulance to Middlemore Hospital with minor to moderate injuries.

A further 10 workers were treated at a Mangere medical centre for abrasions and shock.

Mr Dodd said Occupational Safety and Health staff were investigating the collapse and an internal inquiry was also under way.

The ceiling was installed as part of a $10 million airport extension finished last week.

Mr Dodd said the area would be closed for as long as it took to ensure the whole area was safe.

Airport chief executive Don Huse said the tiles, which all fell at once, were made of a plaster material. He would not name the company involved in the building work.

The check-in staff affected worked for ground-handling company Menzies.

Mr Dodd said there was no suggestion that the extension opened too early.

"It was due to open around this time."

In an unrelated incident, a man suffered an electric shock while working at another site at the airport.

Mr Dodd said the man was "absolutely fine".