Malfunction halts veterans' Gallipoli flight

Photo / Supplied

Veterans, defence force staff and students on their way to Gallipoli commemorations have been delayed by seven hours after a malfunction on their Air Force plane.

The New Zealand delegation was scheduled to leave at 9am this morning for a stopover in Darwin, Australia.

It is now not expected to leave until 4pm.

Amongst the delegation are 22 veterans, students and defence force personnel, most of whom have links with the Gallipoli campaign.

Air force Wing Commander Brett Marshall said a problem with the first Boeing 757 meant that the second Boeing had to be recalled from Perth last night. It got back at 4am and a team had been working through the night on a parts problem.

He said part of the delay was because of the requirement of a new part being fully tested before the plane is airborne.

He estimated that the delegation would be four or five hours late getting into Darwin.

The delegation has been waiting at the Ohakea Airbase.

Veterans were given a tour of the historic aircraft and the mess had come through with meals.

One veteran Gordon Garwood said the food was "delicious" and the veterans seemed to enjoy reminiscing about their own service while looking at the Spitfires and other historic aircraft.

Wing Commander Marshall said he did not expect the delay to impact on the final arrival time at Istanbul, Turkey.


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