Flight lands at Christchurch after engine problem

A Qantas flight from Auckland to Queenstown carrying 66 passengers was diverted to Christchurch this afternoon after a problem developed in an engine.

The Boeing 737-300, which landed at Christchurch about 1.20pm, had never been in any danger and had taxied along the runway under its own power, a Qantas spokesman said.

Emergency services had been placed on standby purely as a precaution.

The spokesman did not know the details of the engine problem and said engineers were investigating the cause.

The passengers had been put on replacement flights, with their arrival in Queenstown expected to be about two hours later than scheduled because of the incident.

- NZPA