Full alert declared at air force base for Boeing

A full airport emergency was declared at the air force's Whenuapai base on Auckland's North Shore this morning after an air force jet reported engine problems.

When the Boeing 757 reported a problem with one engine, six fire appliances from around the North Shore rushed to the airport to support the bases's own fire tenders.

The aircraft touched down safely at 9.45am.

Squadron Leader Brett Goodall said the pilot had reported a problem with an engine and circled the airport for some time to burn off fuel and reduce the landing weight.

He said both engines appeared to be working when the plane landed.

The Boeing had taken off for Darwin on an overseas deployment and about 20 passengers and crew were on board.

Squadron Leader Goodall said declaring a full alert was a precautionary measure to make sure emergency services were there if they were needed.

New Zealand Fire Service shift manager Megan Ruru said the air force called the fire service as a back up and it was considered to be a full emergency.

"It started off with a response of six trucks."

She said the fire service was dealing with an accident on the North Western Motorway and called in fire appliances from the North Shore and Ponsonby which sent a foam tender.

- NZPA